Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Boilermaker road race canceled due to COVID-19 concerns; virtual event set for September
UTICA, N.Y. — Organizers have canceled this year’s Boilermaker road race in Utica “due to safety concerns related to COVID-19” and will instead hold a

New York manufacturing index rebounds after two months of record lows
The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index climbed almost back to even in June after posting record lows in the prior two months. The

Gatherings of up to 25 people now allowed in New York’s phase 3 regions
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday announced gatherings of up to 25 people will now be allowed in regions that are in

Ben Weitsman of Ithaca to build new recycling, steel-service center near Ithaca
ITHACA, N.Y. — Ben Weitsman of Ithaca has announced plans to build a new, “multi-million” dollar scrap recycling and retail steel-service center near Ithaca. The

HEALTH-CARE CAREER NEWS-JUNE 2020
FINGER LAKES HEALTH ROBERT E. HOSKINS, III has joined FLH Medical P.C.’s Keuka Health Care. He will be seeing patients in the Medical Arts Building

HCP EXEC TALK: Oswego Health’s Tull discusses its COVID-19 approach
OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health near the end of May removed a respiratory triage tent that the organization had set up outside Oswego Hospital to

Unity House adds small-business owner as board member
AUBURN — Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. recently announced that it has added Christina Warter, owner of Soul & Mind Evolution (SAME) in Auburn, to its board of directors. SAME is a sensory center that offers a supportive sensory experience and programming that is sensitive to individuals affected by autism and other developmental delays.
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AUBURN — Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. recently announced that it has added Christina Warter, owner of Soul & Mind Evolution (SAME) in Auburn, to its board of directors.
SAME is a sensory center that offers a supportive sensory experience and programming that is sensitive to individuals affected by autism and other developmental delays. She created SAME as a safe space for her young daughter, who has special needs, and other families and caregivers in similar situations. Prior to starting SAME, Warter was a housing coordinator, community educator, and support-group facilitator at Community Action Programs in Auburn.
“I am looking forward to working with Christina; she will ask the questions that need to be asked,” Liz Smith, executive director of Unity House, said in a statement. “As the parent of a child with disabilities and as a small-business owner, she understands the importance of inclusion and service requirements, and will be able to share her insight with the board.”
Unity House of Cayuga County is a nonprofit that provides transitional and permanent housing, rehabilitative, and employment services for individuals with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and/or chemical dependencies from which they are recovering. The agency says it serves more than 700 consumers a day in six central New York counties.

Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton releases reopening plan as it gets ready for late June restart
BINGHAMTON — The staff and board of the Southern Tier Zoological Society on June 1 announced a plan for the reopening of Ross Park Zoo as part of phase 4 of the Southern Tier’s reopening under New York State’s regional restart. “We anticipate being able to reopen Ross Park Zoo at the end of June.
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BINGHAMTON — The staff and board of the Southern Tier Zoological Society on June 1 announced a plan for the reopening of Ross Park Zoo as part of phase 4 of the Southern Tier’s reopening under New York State’s regional restart.
“We anticipate being able to reopen Ross Park Zoo at the end of June. Zoo staff have been working on developing safety protocols based on currently available industry guidance from New York State, public health recommendations from the CDC and USDA, and best practices from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” the Society said in a news release.
The plan includes screening, physical distancing, use of protective equipment, hygiene and cleaning, and contact tracing and disinfection of contaminated areas to protect the zoo’s staff and visitors, and also ensure the safety and welfare of the animals.
The plan, which is subject to change as additional information becomes available, can be viewed at https://rossparkzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020_reopening_plan_FINAL-1.pdf
The Ross Park Zoo is located at 60 Morgan Road in Binghamton. It was founded in 1875 and is the fifth-oldest zoo in the country.

The Downtown Farmers Market returns for 2020 season with new look
SYRACUSE — With vendors and patrons wearing masks to help prevent spread of the coronavirus, the Downtown Farmers Market on June 9 opened for its 48th season in Syracuse’s Clinton Square. The market, presented by the Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc., is scheduled “rain or shine,” every Tuesday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 13.
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SYRACUSE — With vendors and patrons wearing masks to help prevent spread of the coronavirus, the Downtown Farmers Market on June 9 opened for its 48th season in Syracuse’s Clinton Square.
The market, presented by the Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc., is scheduled “rain or shine,” every Tuesday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 13. The Downtown Committee describes the market as “the place to find fresh, locally-grown” fruits, vegetables, plants, and flowers.
To support the health of shoppers, farmers, and staff amid the coronavirus outbreak, organizers are implementing and following new public-health guidance for farmers markets, as outlined by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
The guidelines include requiring everyone to wear a mask/facial covering, spacing out farmers’ booths to allow at least six feet of distance between booths, and providing handwashing stations throughout the market.
The Downtown Committee said about two dozen farmers participated on opening day. As the growing season continues, as many as 50 of the region’s farmers and produce dealers will be featured each week.
Additional requirements
Besides masks, spacing, and handwashing stations, the state guidance also requires all vendors and staff processing credit card, debit, and SNAP transactions to wear protective gloves.
In addition, only vendors and their staff are allowed to handle products; customers “must not touch” any produce/products until after purchase, the state guidance says. All the vendors must sanitize their stands “regularly,” which includes wiping down tables and cash boxes.
Additional guidance includes a policy that all market staff and vendors must stay home if they are sick, and sampling of products at the market is “not allowed until further notice.”

Finger Lakes firm to renovate, move into former Syroco facility in Van Buren
VAN BUREN — The former Syroco site at 7528 State Fair Blvd. in the town of Van Buren will soon have new life. Empire Polymer Solutions, LLC of Geneva is seeking to renovate the facility and create 70 jobs in the next five years. The firm is looking for $2.4 million in tax breaks for
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VAN BUREN — The former Syroco site at 7528 State Fair Blvd. in the town of Van Buren will soon have new life.
Empire Polymer Solutions, LLC of Geneva is seeking to renovate the facility and create 70 jobs in the next five years.
The firm is looking for $2.4 million in tax breaks for the project from the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA), per a document in the meeting notes posted at the OCIDA website.
Empire Polymer Solutions brings an “innovative approach” to plastic processing and manufacturing, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon contended in a June 9 news release announcing the firm’s interest in the facility.
The company is proposing to renovate and operate the 205,000-square-foot building. It plans to invest $7 million in the effort with projected employment of 70 jobs within the next five years.
Empire Polymer Solutions wants to use the facility to process and manufacture goods from recycled plastics, per a document in the meeting packet posted at the OCIDA website.
“…the area outside the building will be used for trailer parking, employee parking. No further buildings are planned on the lot. However, utilizing the rail spur and the silos are part of the business plan for finished goods storage and reduced shipping costs,” per the project description.
Empire Polymer Solutions was established when Frank Murphy, the owner of Empire Resource Recycling of Rochester, decided to expand his existing business to create a “larger, more efficient, and sustainable business,” per the Empire Polymer website.
Syroco, short for the Syracuse Ornamental Company, was an American manufacturing company. It was best known for its molded wood-pulp products that resembled hand-carving. Founded in 1890 by immigrant Adolph Holstein, the Syracuse Ornamental Company specialized in decorative wood carving, especially for the local residential market, according to a description on the website of Syracuse University Libraries Special Collection Research Center.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.