New York farms produced 138.5 million eggs in July, down 4 percent from 144.6 million eggs in the year-ago period, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently reported.

The total number of layers in the Empire State decreased by 2 percent in July to 5.46 million from 5.6 million a year prior. 

New York egg production per 100 layers totaled 2,537 eggs in July, down nearly 2 percent from 2,586 eggs in July 2017.

In neighboring Pennsylvania, egg production fell less than 1 percent to 690.2 million eggs in July from 694.6 million eggs a year earlier, the USDA reported. 

Nationally, U.S. farms produced more than 9.1 billion eggs in July, up more than 2 percent from 8.9 billion a year prior, the USDA reported.

ELMIRA — Elmira Savings Bank (NASDAQ: ESBK) announced that its board of directors has declared a cash dividend of 23 cents a share on its existing common shares outstanding.

The dividend will be paid on Sept. 14 to shareholders of record on Sept. 7. At the banking company’s current stock price, the dividend yields more than 4.25 percent on an annual basis.

Elmira Savings Bank, with $568 million in total assets, is a state-chartered bank with six branches in Chemung County, three offices in Tompkins County, two branches in Steuben County, one office in Cayuga County, one branch in Schuyler County, and a loan center in Broome County.

The Elmira–based banking company in June paid out a 5 percent stock dividend on existing common shares outstanding and a cash dividend of 23 cents a share on newly issued and existing shares. 

Elmira Savings Bank earned $1.16 million in net income in the second quarter, up from $1.11 million in the same period in 2017. For the first six months of the year, it generated $2.29 million in net income, up from $2.19 million in the year-prior period.

SYRACUSE — The number of people working in downtown Syracuse has grown to 29,000 and the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. says now is the time to celebrate and “appreciate” this sizable workforce.

“We see many companies moving back into downtown Syracuse because it offers them that vibrant environment that’s going to be attractive to recruiting additional employees and providing that employee satisfaction,” Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee, tells CNYBJ.

So, the Downtown Committee is launching its first-ever Employee Appreciation Week, to be held Sept. 17-21.

 “That [week] is intended to celebrate downtown’s 29,000 employees through a series of free events and promotions, while also raising the visibility of our downtown businesses to get more traffic through their doors,” she says

Each day of the week will be focused on a specific theme, with lunchtime events, evening activities, and/or early morning activities planned. 

“Our hope is that employers will maybe give their employees a little more leeway, maybe at the lunch hour, maybe letting them leave a half-hour early to take advantage of some of these free activities and promotions,” Treier says. 

The five daily themes of Employee Appreciation Week and some of their highlighted activities are the following.

Moving Monday: This day offers free fitness activities including Barre and Kung Fu. A Happy Hour dance event then follows from 4-7 p.m. at the Persian Terrace at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. 

Tasty Tuesday: Downtown employees can pick up free “swag” at the Downtown Farmers Market and sample “nutritious” food at the Women’s Health Day wellness event at the market. The day wraps up with an event at the currently empty lot at 484 S. Salina St. It will be transformed into a pop-up food hall featuring six local, “entrepreneurial” food vendors offerings samples for $1 a piece as live music plays.

Wellness Wednesday: This day offers the chance to practice all aspects of wellness with free fitness classes. It also provides lunch-and-learn sessions and demonstrations exploring topics including nutrition, stress management, financial wellness, and hands-only CPR. Free lunch from a downtown Syracuse eatery will be provided at each session.

Treat Yourself Thursday: Employees can take a break from the “daily grind” and enjoy free coffee and a snack, as the Downtown Committee of Syracuse partners with Cafe Kubal to present a downtown coffee break. Then, later in the afternoon, employees can enjoy specials from downtown retailers and sip on Happy Hour specials from downtown restaurants and bars. 

Friday Finale: This wrap-up day allows colleagues to participate in a series of office competitions and team-building activities, including tug of war. A putting green outside One Lincoln Center in Perseverance Park and a Post-It note art contest offer still more fun.

The goal of Employee Appreciation Week is to help boost the morale of employees and help link them up with the attractions and amenities that downtown Syracuse has to offer, which in turn helps downtown employers become more attractive to prospective employees, the Downtown Committee says.

“Again, it’s with the goal of retaining talent, but also attracting new talent by demonstrating this vibrant environment that they’re a part of,” Treier says. “We hope to have an excuse for employees to get out of their office chairs and go out and experience this incredible environment that they’re a part of… The networking is huge.”

For more information about Employee Appreciation Week, visit: https://www.downtownsyracuse.com/get-involved/employee-appreciation-week. The event is presented in partnership with M&T Bank. 

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse says it is a private, not-for-profit, professional downtown management organization, representing all property owners and tenants within the central business district. It is part of CenterState CEO.