Governor names Hall chair of Adirondack Park Agency board

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RAY BROOK — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Oct. 3 announced she has designated Mark Hall as chair of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) board. Hall was originally appointed to the APA board in 2020. As a board member, he chaired the public awareness and communication and economic affairs committees and served on the local government […]

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RAY BROOK — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Oct. 3 announced she has designated Mark Hall as chair of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) board.

Hall was originally appointed to the APA board in 2020. As a board member, he chaired the public awareness and communication and economic affairs committees and served on the local government services and park policy and planning committees.

In addition to serving on the Adirondack Park Agency board for the last five years, Hall has worked on behalf of and alongside Adirondack Park communities for decades, per the announcement. He previously served on the Town of Fine’s board for 13 years, including eight years as town supervisor, where he spearheaded an environmental-cleanup effort to remove hazardous waste and industrial blight at a former iron-ore facility near that St. Lawrence County town. He also helped improve rural telecommunication and broadband coverage and secured Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and Smart Growth grants for the town.

Hall presently works as the Town of Fine’s water superintendent, where he oversees the water district for the North County community. In 2019, he led an $8.4-million water system infrastructure improvement project for the town, which was awarded “Project of the Year” by the American Water Works Association. He also serves as a board member for the St. Lawrence County IDA and the Development Authority of the North Country. Hall previously held board roles with the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages, and the Clifton-Fine Hospital.

“The Adirondack Park is one of New York’s crown jewels and a cornerstone of the North Country economy,” Gov. Hochul said in the announcement. “Balancing environmental protection while promoting sustainable economic development is key to the Park’s long-term success. Mark Hall has worked tirelessly on behalf of North Country communities and the environment for decades. He will excel as the next Chair of the Adirondack Park Agency and help build a better and brighter future for the North Country.”

APA Chair Hall stated, “The Adirondack Park Agency has grown under [the governor’s] leadership and today is well positioned to achieve its mission. From my earliest days, I have devoted my life to serving this Park and its people. I look forward to working with my colleagues and all stakeholders to ensure that the Agency continues its dual commitment to protecting the environment and supporting communities.”

The Adirondack Park Agency was created in 1971 by the New York State Legislature to develop long-range land use plans for both public and private lands within the boundary of the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. The APA, headquartered in Ray Brook in Essex County, is a New York State governmental agency with an 11-member board, and staff of more than 50, according to its website. The board meets monthly to act on Adirondack Park policy issues and permit applications. The APA’s executive director is Barbara Rice.

New APA headquarters project proposal

The Adirondack Park Agency is currently planning to replace its 1970s-era headquarters building in Ray Brook. The agency said the current preferred site to construct a new headquarters is at 1-3 Main St. in Saranac Lake. This proposal would cost about $40 million to restore the Paul Smith Electric Light and Power building and construct a new energy efficient office building, according to a Sept. 11 announcement on the APA website. Combined, the buildings would create about 28,000 square feet of office and meeting space if built. A project dashboard with details, reports, renderings, and updates on the proposed headquarters project is available at: https://apa.ny.gov/headquarters-project.html.

Tops store remodels in Fayetteville, Manlius wrap up

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

MANLIUS — Work crews recently completed remodeling projects at the Tops Friendly Markets stores at Towne Center at Fayetteville and in the village of Manlius. Tops held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Oct. 1, beginning at the 41,000-square-foot store at 119 West Seneca St. in the village of Manlius, where it completed a $2.15 million renovation.

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MVCC expects to finish work on Applied Technology Center in late 2027

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Mohawk Valley, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) expects its upcoming Applied Technology Center (ATC) to be completed by late December 2027. MVCC on Sept.

Oswego Hospital to expand emergency and imaging department

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Subscriber Only

It’s a $14 million construction project OSWEGO — A $14 million, multi-phase construction project at Oswego Hospital will renovate and expand its emergency and imaging department. The effort is “designed to enhance emergency care, streamline diagnostic services, and create a safer, more efficient hospital experience for patients and their families across CNY,” according to

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It’s a $14 million construction project

OSWEGO — A $14 million, multi-phase construction project at Oswego Hospital will renovate and expand its emergency and imaging department.

The effort is “designed to enhance emergency care, streamline diagnostic services, and create a safer, more efficient hospital experience for patients and their families across CNY,” according to an Oct. 6 announcement from Oswego Health, the hospital’s parent health system.

Oswego Health has selected the Hayner Hoyt Corporation of Syracuse as the general contractor on the project. The health system expects the renovation effort to conclude by the end of 2026.

A New York State Healthcare Facility Transformation Program grant and contributions from community donors are helping to fund the project.

“This is a critical investment in the health and safety of our community — one that comes at a time when every dollar must be stretched, but also when the need is greatest,” Michael Backus, president and CEO of Oswego Health, said in the announcement. “Thanks to state support and community generosity, we can finally reimagine how emergency and diagnostic care is delivered locally. This is more than a construction project — it’s a promise to the families we serve.”

Project details

The project targets 17,800 square feet of space on the first floor of Oswego Hospital.

The first phase, which is expected to last about 15 weeks, focuses on patient experience and hospital security by creating a single, secure point of entry into the acute care community hospital. The current main hall will close, and all patients and visitors will enter through a new centralized lobby area, where they will be welcomed and issued badges.

The second phase, which is expected to last about 32 weeks, will expand Oswego Hospital’s emergency department from 17 to 20 treatment rooms and is described by Oswego Health as the “centerpiece” of the project.

The final phase, which Oswego Health expects will last about 13 weeks, will consolidate all imaging services into a modernized medical-imaging department on the hospital’s first floor.

The effort will include a new CT scanner and upgrades to the existing unit, along with new rooms for X-ray, mammography, bone density, ultrasound, and echocardiograms.

Former fire chief in Wayne County sentenced for $101,000 theft from department

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

NEWARK — William Storrs, the former chief and treasurer of the Marbletown Volunteer Fire Department in Newark in Wayne County, was recently sentenced to four months of weekends in the Wayne County Jail and five years of probation for stealing more than $101,000 from the department. Storrs was also ordered to pay a total of

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Storrs was also ordered to pay a total of $101,394.50 in restitution, according to a Sept. 3 announcement from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.

“William Storrs abused the trust of the community he was sworn to serve and protect by stealing over $100,000 in fire department funds for his own profit,” the comptroller said. “Thanks to our partnership with the New York State Police and District Attorney Callanan, he has been held accountable for his crimes and the money he stole will be recovered.”

DiNapoli’s office and the New York State Police launched a joint investigation into the Marbletown Fire Department in 2024, looking into allegations of theft. They found Storrs used his position as treasurer and then later as chief to steal $101,000-plus over four years. From January 2020 to July 2024, he made numerous personal purchases with the fire department’s debit cards and made direct payments from the department’s bank accounts to his personal accounts. Storrs also made payments to his wife’s credit card and purchased items from various retailers, per the announcement.

The theft was discovered when a member of the Marbletown Volunteer Fire Department attempted to make a purchase with the department’s debit card and it was declined due to lack of funds. Fire department officials then reported the unauthorized activity to the State Police, who partnered with DiNapoli’s office. In July 2024, Storrs was replaced as fire chief and suspended from the fire department.

“Public funds exist to serve the community, not to line the pockets of those in power. Mr. Storrs’ theft was a serious breach of duty, but today he has been held to account and ordered to repay every dollar he stole. Let this outcome serve as a warning: anyone who abuses their position for personal gain will face consequences, and the resources they took will be restored to the people they belong to,” Wayne County DA Callanan said.

Storrs was sentenced before Judge Richard M. Healy in Wayne County Court.

Lockheed Martin boosts dividend, stock buyback

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

The Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) board of directors has authorized a fourth quarter 2025 dividend of $3.45 per share, up 4.5 percent from the $3.30 a share that the defense contractor paid last quarter. It is Lockheed’s 23rd straight year of dividend increases, the company said in its Oct. 9 announcement. The dividend is

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Rome Community Foundation awards $45K in grants to area nonprofits

Nonprofits, Mohawk Valley

ROME, N.Y. — The Rome Community Foundation said it awarded $45,344 in grants to a group of Rome–area charitable organizations in its latest distributions for

Jennerations Bakery formally opens in Phoenix area

Small Business, Subscriber Only

PHOENIX — Jennerations Bakery officially celebrated its opening with an Oct. 10 grand-opening event at its location in the Three Rivers Plaza, on Route 57, just outside the village of Phoenix in the town of Schroeppel. Jennerations Bakery owner Jennifer Morey cut the ribbon in a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony held that morning with the Greater

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Clarkson to launch introduction to energy & utilities seminar course

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, North Country, Subscriber Only

POTSDAM — Clarkson University says it is partnering with leading industry executives to introduce a new one-credit seminar course, called “Introduction to Energy and Utilities,” during the spring 2026 semester. The class will introduce students to both the technical and business aspects of the field and will be presented through the Center for Electric Power

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The class will introduce students to both the technical and business aspects of the field and will be presented through the Center for Electric Power Systems Research (CEPSR). The public is invited to attend the weekly lectures free of charge and can sign up on Clarkson’s Introduction to Energy and Utilities web page through this link: https://shorturl.at/G1EJu.

The weekly seminar will feature executive guest speakers who will cover a wide range of industry topics, including construction, power generation, transmission, distribution and industrial applications, Clarkson said in an Oct. 15 announcement. Sessions will also address the evolving role of utilities in serving new types of power users, such as data centers.

“Hearing directly from industry leaders gives students and industry professionals valuable insight into the complex challenges facing today’s energy sector, from integrating renewable resources to modernizing the grid and maintaining reliability,” Matt Barnett, National Grid’s chief operating officer for New York Electric, said in the Clarkson announcement. “These conversations help to provide a clearer understanding of what lies ahead.”

Students will gain insights into emerging business models and geo-political influences. The course will also cover the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in grid modernization and digital energy security. Additional topics include renewable and clean-energy growth, energy storage, fuel cells, green hydrogen, smart grids, microgrids, and electric vehicles.

“Our industry’s ability to deliver affordable and reliable electricity is facing significant short-term and long-term challenges, particularly with rising adoption of electricity-driven technology and AI,” Hala Ballouz, founder of Electric Power Engineers, said in the announcement. “I’m excited for the opportunity to inspire students and industry professionals to apply their passion and ingenuity to our energy industry, to roll up our sleeves together to develop the game-changing innovations the grid of the future demands.”

Offered through Clarkson’s Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Science, the seminar will be open to graduate students and upper-class undergraduates, including non-engineering majors. The course will be taught and moderated by Fram Akiki, a 1986 Clarkson graduate and president of Joun Technologies. Akiki has more than 35 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including executive roles with IBM, Qualcomm, and Siemens.

Speakers for the 2026 course include Hala Ballouz, founder of Electric Power Engineers; Phil Barker, professor of practice and coordinator of the Power Engineering MSEE Cohort Program at Clarkson University; Matt Barnett, chief operating officer of National Grid New York; Richard Dewey, CEO of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO); and many more.

Introduction to Energy and Utilities is the second seminar course of its kind at Clarkson, following on the success of last spring’s Introduction to Semiconductors speaker series, the university noted. In Introduction to Semiconductors, students heard from weekly guest speakers who are leading the global semiconductor industry.

OPINION: N.Y. Needs Safeguards to Prevent Marijuana-Impaired Driving

Opinion, Subscriber Only

Marijuana-impaired driving accidents are on the rise, and New York remains one of the most lenient states when it comes to recreational marijuana use. Since legalization under the 2021 Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, the rollout of cannabis has been plagued by mismanagement and misplaced priorities. Regrettably, too many lawmakers in Albany have shown more

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According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, more than half of people injured or killed in crashes nationwide tested positive for alcohol or drugs — most commonly cannabis. Last summer, right here in New York, a 14-year-old girl was killed and a 16-year-old was injured by someone driving while impaired by marijuana. Sadly, there are other reports of similar senseless tragedies.

In the rush to legalize marijuana, New York State failed to pair that decision with accountability measures — no consistent roadside testing, no clear enforcement standards — leaving law enforcement with few tools to stop marijuana-impaired drivers. Furthermore, the New York State Department of Health found that 54 percent of New Yorkers use cannabis for non-medical reasons, and today’s marijuana has tripled in potency compared to the 1990s. As recreational use becomes more widespread, the state must confront the growing risks that come with it.

Members of the Assembly Minority Conference recognize the urgent need for improved safety and measures to identify impaired drivers. Assemblyman Keith Brown (R,C–Northport) has been at the forefront of this issue and among the legislators who have introduced legislation to address valid concerns related to recreational cannabis usage:

• A.5271 (Brown) — Implements oral fluid tests, which test a person’s saliva for the presence of cannabis.

• A.5699 (Giglio) — Relates to arrest, prosecution, sentencing, and penalties for offenses involving vehicular assault, manslaughter and homicide, and operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• A.8599 (Norber) — Establishes an oral fluid task force to study and make recommendations on best practices for the testing of oral fluid to determine impairment due to drug intoxication while operating a motor vehicle in the state.

• A.5974 (Reilly) — Classifies operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs by an individual under the age of 21 as a per se offense.

Another tragedy does not have to take place. The evidence is clear, and the consequences are real. While New York’s rollout of recreational cannabis has been poorly managed and short-sighted, there is still time to act. The state must take immediate steps to strengthen its laws, raise public awareness, and protect innocent lives from the dangers of marijuana-impaired driving.

William (Will) A. Barclay, 56, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.

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