Crouse Health annual Lights of Love campaign to benefit repairs to the clock tower

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Crouse Health’s annual Lights of Love campaign will benefit repairs to the clock tower on which the lights are displayed. The health

Schumer asks Congress to extend Medicare telehealth service

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HAMILTON, N.Y. — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) is urging lawmakers to extend Medicare’s telehealth program, which could expire at the end of

Naturally Lewis awards nearly $104,000 to Lewis County businesses

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LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis, Inc. says it has awarded close to $104,000 to Lewis County companies through two different funds. The organization in late November announced the recipients of grants from the Building Business Fund and the Small Things, Big Impacts Fund. Building Business Fund is designed to provide matching funds to businesses looking

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State completes Thruway work in Herkimer and Montgomery counties

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New York State wrapped up a $13.7 million infrastructure project on the Thruway (I-90) in Herkimer and Montgomery counties. Work included full- and partial-depth repairs

2024 40 under Forty Awards Event Photos

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Photos from the 2024 40 under Forty Awards, held in November at the Oncenter. Photography courtesy of Ana Gil Photography.

Binghamton University to use federal grant for school-based mental-health workers in Chenango County

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VESTAL — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) a five-year grant totaling more than $4.5 million to expand mental-health services in Chenango County. The effort is part of the Mental Health Service Provider Demonstration grant program, Binghamton University said in its announcement. The initiative — entitled Empowering Rural Communities:

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The effort is part of the Mental Health Service Provider Demonstration grant program, Binghamton University said in its announcement.

The initiative — entitled Empowering Rural Communities: Promoting Mental Health, Equity, and Wellbeing Through a University-assisted Community Schools Approach — will expand social-work support to students and families in the Norwich and Oxford school districts. The project will serve 2,310 students and their families.

Binghamton University cites the Chenango County Community Health Assessment as indicating Chenango County has been designated a Health Professional Shortage Area.

The lack of primary care and mental-health services leaves families, school systems, and community agencies with the task of addressing complex student needs with limited resources. Connecting this need to the university-assisted community school approach that mobilizes higher education in partnership with schools, families and community members “provided a strong foundation for this successful proposal,” the SUNY school said.

Laura Bronstein, founding director of BUCS and dean of Binghamton University’s College of Community and Public Affairs, said she is excited to expand this program to Chenango County.

“As a leader in university-assisted community schools for small cities and rural communities, BUCS works with communities locally and beyond to support success for all students through out-of-classroom support in collaboration with institutions of higher education and community partners,” Bronstein said in the Binghamton announcement. “Increasingly, children are being left behind due to challenges that even the best teachers can’t address on their own. This includes issues like anxiety and depression, violence, poverty and many others that interfere with students’ abilities to focus on learning in the classroom. This new grant allows us to expand our support for mental health challenges that have been skyrocketing among youth, especially since the pandemic, and to have Binghamton’s community school faculty guide this work with evidence-based knowledge.”

Funding from the Empowering Rural Communities program will pay for a full-time project director and two full-time community-schools coordinators, one for each district. The director will serve Chenango County, working with partners to join current efforts to understand resources.

They’ll also explore ways in which university-assisted community school strategies can support a regional approach to enhancing mental health and well-being. Community school coordinators will be placed on site with up to four social-work interns each to work with school staff to identify areas of strength and explore ways in which social-work interns can fill unmet needs, Binghamton University said.

Five Star Bank parent company to pay Q4 dividend of 30 cents a share in early January

Banks & Credit Unions, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

WARSAW, N.Y. — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), parent company of Five Star Bank, recently announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share of its common stock outstanding. The banking company will pay the fourth-quarter dividend on Jan. 2, to shareholders of record as of Dec.

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Jefferson County hotels register another strong month in October

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WATERTOWN — Jefferson County hotels posted substantial improvement in three important indicators of hotel-business performance in October, following up solid gains in September and August. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the North Country’s most populous county rose 7 percent to 56.8 percent in the 10th month of this

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Oneida County hotel occupancy falls 3 percent in October

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UTICA — Oneida County hotels registered a decline in overnight guests in October, as two other key indicators of business performance improved. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) dipped 3 percent to 66.4 percent in the 10th month of this year compared to the year-ago month, according to a report

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Winter Fair brings “Summer Fun” to Expo Center in late January

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GEDDES — Advance-sale tickets are now available for the 6th annual Winter Fair, which returns to the Expo Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in 2025 — at the end of January and the start of February. Winter Fair is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31 from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m.-9

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Winter Fair is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31 from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Advance tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for teens/pre-teens and seniors. Children aged 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. At the door, admission is $8 for adults and $6 for teens/pre-teens and seniors, but children aged 10 and under will still get in for free.

Premier Promotions, which promotes the Winter Fair, announced details on Nov. 20 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

With the theme, “Summer Fun,” the event includes the food, rides, music, and entertainment that people enjoy throughout the summer, including at events like the Great New York State Fair in late August and early September.

“We want to give people a chance to have some summer fun in the middle of winter. It’s great to have an event for all ages, where you can bring your friends and family to enjoy themselves,” Steve Becker of Premier Promotions, the Promoter of Winter Fair 2025, said in the announcement. “The New York State Fairgrounds have great year around events and Winter Fair has become an annual tradition in ‘Making Memories.’”

In addition to serving as a community event for Central New York, the Winter Fair also provides the area an “economic boost,” attracting people from across New York State, other states, and even Canada.

“The Winter Fair in Syracuse has become a beacon of seasonal celebration, drawing in thousands of families and offering a unique blend of entertainment, cuisine, and cultural showcases,” Danny Liedka, president & CEO of Visit Syracuse, said in the Winter Fair announcement. “Beyond the vibrant experiences it provides, the fair injects significant economic value into the community, boosting local businesses, creating jobs, and enhancing tourism. This annual event highlights the resilience and warmth of Syracuse, even in the coldest season, and strengthens our community by bringing people together from all around the region.”

Winter Fair 2025 will also include chances to help give back to the Central New York community.

The Price Chopper/Market 32 Winter Fair Hoops will be back with attendees shooting baskets and winning prizes for donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse. Various Syracuse University athletes will be there to meet and greet attendees in the Winter Fair hoops area. The past five Winter Fairs have raised more than $12,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse.

“We appreciate the wonderful support & partnership with Steve Becker and the Syracuse Winter Fair,” Jenni Gratien, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs, said. “The money raised in the last five years has been to support youth in our after-school programs at all three Clubs in Syracuse. We look forward to returning for our sixth year at the Syracuse Winter Fair!”

Reindeer, fireworks

A new feature this year will be the Winter Fair reindeer. Attendees will have a chance to have their photo taken with a reindeer from Hanggi’s Tree Farm in Naples in Ontario County. This no-charge feature will take place outside in front of the walkway to the Expo Center on Feb. 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Your Local IT Dept. of DeWitt is sponsoring the Winter Fair reindeer.

Additional sponsors for Winter Fair 2025 include AmeriCU, which will be providing free parking at the Expo Center, and Amazon, which will be sponsoring the Winter Fair Stage.

Onondaga County will be presenting the Winter Fair Fireworks on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at 8:45 p.m. by the Expo Center.

“Onondaga County is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Syracuse Winter Fair! From great entertainment and delicious food to a mini midway and spectacular fireworks show, there is something for everyone,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in the Winter Fair announcement. “Our community is fortunate to host such great events like the Syracuse Winter Fair and I look forward to another successful year!”

“The Winter Fair provides the opportunity to enjoy the spirit of summer during the heart of a Syracuse winter,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh added. “The Winter Fair has grown into an annual tradition that brings together local businesses and nonprofits, entertainment, and beloved fair favorites for a weekend everyone can enjoy.”

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Reindeer, fireworks

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