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Visions FCU, SU launch new program for student veterans
SYRACUSE. N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) is working with Syracuse University (SU) on a success program targeting student veterans. Visions FCU and SU’s
Community Bank System boosts dividend for Q3
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) — parent company of Community Bank, N.A. — announced that it has declared a cash dividend of 45 cents per share on its common stock for the third quarter. The dividend will be payable on Oct. 10, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15. The
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DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) — parent company of Community Bank, N.A. — announced that it has declared a cash dividend of 45 cents per share on its common stock for the third quarter.
The dividend will be payable on Oct. 10, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15.
The quarterly payment represents a one cent, or 2.3 percent, increase over what Community Bank System paid last quarter. It corresponds to an annualized yield of about 3.8 percent, based on the banking company’s current stock price.
“The payment of a meaningful and growing dividend is an important component of our commitment to provide consistent and favorable long term returns to our Shareholders. This dividend increase reflects the Board of Director’s confidence in our ability to continue to deliver consistent earnings and marks the 31st consecutive year in which the Company has increased its annual dividend,” Mark E. Tryniski, president and CEO of Community Bank System, said in a July 19 news release.
DeWitt–based Community Bank System has total assets of $15.1 billion and is among the nation’s 100 largest banks. Community Bank operates more than 200 branches across upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and western Massachusetts. The company also offers employee-benefits administration, insurance, and wealth-management services.

DEC appoints former OCRRA leader to new department role
The DEC has announced the appointment of Dereth Glance to the role of regional director in the department’s region 7. It covers Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, and Tompkins counties. The appointment was among four that DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced on Aug. 10. Glance most recently served as DEC’s deputy commissioner
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The DEC has announced the appointment of Dereth Glance to the role of regional director in the department’s region 7. It covers Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.
The appointment was among four that DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced on Aug. 10.
Glance most recently served as DEC’s deputy commissioner for environmental remediation and materials management. In that role, she oversaw DEC’s divisions of environmental remediation, materials management, and mineral resources.
Prior to joining DEC, Glance served as OCRRA executive director and was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama as U.S. Commissioner at the International Joint Commission.
Glance’s experience also includes work with Citizens Campaign for the Environment; New York State’s Great Lakes Basin Advisory Council; Clean Water Network; and Onondaga Lake Partnership Outreach Committee, among other roles.
Besides Glance’s new role, Seggos also announced Suzanna Randall as the DEC’s first chief resiliency officer, Peter Reuben as the first-ever director of DEC’s Office of Indian Nation Affairs, and Cecilia Walsh as the DEC’s director of media relations.
Seggos contends these DEC leadership additions and changes are “critical to sustaining the success of New York’s environmental protection policies and programs.”
“Suzanna Randall and Peter Reuben are bringing extensive experience and skills to two new and critically important agency roles that focus on enhancing resiliency and strengthening relationships with Indigenous Nations,” Seggos said in the DEC news release. “Dereth Glance will continue bringing her energy and passion to a different role leading DEC’s presence in Central New York and the Southern Tier, and Cecilia Walsh will help guide our extensive engagement with the media to inform the public. DEC is strengthening our team to bolster our efforts to meet the unique challenges and opportunities before New York State.”

NYSDOT to close I-81 south ramp to I-481 north on Sept. 11 for project work
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) plans to close the exit ramp along Interstate 81 (I-81) south to Interstate 481 north at around

SUNY Oswego physics professor to use grant funding for lithium-ion battery research
OSWEGO, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego physics professor Mohammad Islam will use grant funding of $15,000 to continue his research on lithium-ion batteries. The Syracuse Center

Construction begins on $4.8 million sanitary-sewer project in the town of Oswego
OSWEGO, N.Y. — Crews have started construction work on the town of Oswego’s $4.8 million sanitary-sewer project. The effort is part of the state’s Lake

People news: Herkimer College names new assistant professor and academic coordinator
HERKIMER, N.Y. — Herkimer County Community College has appointed Shawna R. Marmet as assistant professor of physical-therapy assistant and academic coordinator of clinical education. Marmet,

Village of Lowville to apply again for DRI funding
LOWVILLE, N.Y. — The Village of Lowville is hoping the fourth time’s the charm in applying to win $10 million in state funding to help

People news: MMRI names new marketing and communications director
UTICA, N.Y. — Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) recently appointed Millie Occhionero as its director of marketing and communications. In this role, she will design

Friends of the Zoo appoints new executive chef
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo recently announced it has promoted Allison Walts from sous chef to executive chef of Catering
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.