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Vernon Downs to open racing season on April 20
VERNON, N.Y. — After a bumpy 2023, which almost saw the racetrack close, Vernon Downs is set to begin its 71st season on Saturday, April 20, the racing and gaming venue announced. Post time for opening night is 6:05 p.m. and features a T-shirt giveaway after the third race. Last May, Mid-State Raceway, Inc., which […]
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VERNON, N.Y. — After a bumpy 2023, which almost saw the racetrack close, Vernon Downs is set to begin its 71st season on Saturday, April 20, the racing and gaming venue announced. Post time for opening night is 6:05 p.m. and features a T-shirt giveaway after the third race.
Last May, Mid-State Raceway, Inc., which does business as Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice with the state, announcing the track would close by year’s end unless it received $2 million in tax relief through the restoration of a previous agent commission fee it received. The closure, which would have affected 249 employees, was avoided when the state passed legislation in May that provided the extended tax relief.
Last year’s top driver, John MacDonald, as well as leading trainer Michelle Warner will return this year to defend their titles, Vernon Downs said in a release.
Other events planned at Vernon Downs include the May 4 simulcast of the 150th Kentucky Derby that includes a $1,300 win and wager promotion along with mint–julep specials.
Vernon Downs will host eight New York Sire Stakes cards featuring top trainers and drivers including the Empire Breeders Classic on June 14, the Zweig Memorial on July 4, and the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior series finale on Sept. 13.
Live racing takes place from April through November.
Vernon Downs Casino Hotel offers more than 500 games, including self-bet terminals for all thoroughbred and harness racing that takes place at Vernon Downs.

Speakers discuss downtown dining during Downtown Committee’s spring progress breakfast
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Dining in downtown Syracuse and the history of the dining scene throughout the years. That was the focus of the spring progress

Oswego Health’s pulmonary function testing lab reopens
OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health announced that its pulmonary function testing lab (PFT) has reopened following its closure in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barclay Damon adds IP attorneys to its office in New Haven, Connecticut
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Syracuse–based Barclay Damon LLP says a five-person intellectual property (IP) team of attorneys has joined its patents & prosecution; intellectual property

State allocates research funding to Upstate Medical, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Poly
ALBANY, N.Y. — Three regional SUNY campuses are among 14 that are allotting a total of nearly $10 million in annual state funding to expand

Excellus presents $30K health award to Mohawk Valley prenatal and maternal support program
UTICA, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced it has presented a $30,000 Health Equity Innovation Award (HEIA) to Mohawk Valley Prenatal and Maternal Support (MVPMS)

Binghamton University awarded $1 million for nanofabrication lab equipment
VESTAL, N.Y. — Binghamton University will use a federal funding award of $1 million to purchase advanced–packaging equipment for its nanofabrication laboratory (NLAB). The funding
People news: Berkshire Bank names cash-management sales team leader
Berkshire Bank, which does business across New England and New York, announcedthat it has promoted Frank Tamburrino to senior VP and team leader of cash

UAS Hack event focuses on cybersecurity and drone technology
ROME — Rome will host the first-ever UAS Hack this summer, a hands-on event that explores the intersection of cybersecurity and drone technology. Set for Aug. 19-23 at the ORION at NTROPEE facility in Rome, the event is geared toward university-aged students and industry experts in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) landscape. It will foster
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ROME — Rome will host the first-ever UAS Hack this summer, a hands-on event that explores the intersection of cybersecurity and drone technology.
Set for Aug. 19-23 at the ORION at NTROPEE facility in Rome, the event is geared toward university-aged students and industry experts in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) landscape. It will foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking while addressing cybersecurity challenges. Assured Information Security (AIS) subject-matter experts will provide instruction and curriculum for the event, the company announced in a press release.
“UAS Hack is designed to put students in front of industry professionals and industry-relevant platforms to give them an opportunity to grow their skills and learn more about what a security-related career would be like,” AIS Chief Engineer Eric Thayer said in the release. “During the event, students will be mentored and trained on how to evaluate the security of UAS, identify potential threats, and provide feedback to vendors and manufacturers.”
The event takes place against the backdrop of New Yor’s 50-mile UAS corridor and will feature hands-on challenges for participants to identify vulnerabilities in drone systems and develop effective countermeasures against potential cyberattacks.
The Open-Architecture Resilient IoT for Operational Networks (ORION) ecosystem, spearheaded by the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, AIS, Quanterion Solutions, Griffiss Institute, NYSTEC, and Cisco, are sponsoring the event.
For more information, including how to register as a participant, visit: uashack.org. Participants should be nominated by a professor and enrolled in a computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer security, or UAS design/maintenance college program.

Prymas reappointed to Herkimer College board
HERKIMER — Gov. Kathy Hochul has recently reappointed Joan Prymas, of Ilion, as a member of the Herkimer County Community College board of trustees for a term set to expire June 30, 2025, the college announced. Originally appointed to the board on Aug. 11, 2015, Prymas has served as board secretary since April 2021, according
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HERKIMER — Gov. Kathy Hochul has recently reappointed Joan Prymas, of Ilion, as a member of the Herkimer County Community College board of trustees for a term set to expire June 30, 2025, the college announced.
Originally appointed to the board on Aug. 11, 2015, Prymas has served as board secretary since April 2021, according to a Herkimer College news release.
She retired from Herkimer College in 2004 at the rank of professor after more than 30 years of teaching mathematics. Upon retirement, the board awarded her emeritus status, an honor granted to retired professional academic and administrative staff to recognize excellence and commitment to the college.
Prymas holds a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from SUNY Albany. She is a member of the SUNY Retiree Services Corps and serves as a member at large on the executive team for NYSUT Retiree Council 39.
Herkimer County Community College offers a variety of associate degrees and certificate programs to a student body of about 2,500.
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