Corn production in New York fell nearly 17 percent in 2022

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New York farms produced 80.5 million bushels of corn for grain last year, down 16.9 percent from 96.86 million bushels in 2021. That’s according to a Jan. 12 report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Northeastern Regional Field Office. The total yield per acre in the Empire State averaged 140 bushels per acre in […]

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New York soybean production declined almost 14 percent last year

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New York farms produced 14.63 million bushels of soybeans in 2022, down 13.8 percent from 16.96 million bushels the prior year. That’s according to a Jan. 12 report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Northeastern Regional Field Office. The total yield per acre in New York averaged 45 bushels per acre last year, down

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New state office to oversee Micron’s $100 billion investment

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul is creating an office that will oversee both Micron Technology’s (NASDAQ: MU) $100 billion investment for a semiconductor campus in Clay and the state’s overall effort to develop its semiconductor industry. Hochul’s office refers to it as GO SEMI, which is short for the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management,

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Hochul’s office refers to it as GO SEMI, which is short for the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration. The governor announced her plan to create the office during her Jan. 10 State of the State address in Albany.

Empire State Development will lead GO SEMI with support from experts from numerous state agencies. It will work in coordination with federal and local partners and oversee investments in the semiconductor industry. GO SEMI will also help form and implement a broader, national model for “maximizing industry and community returns” on such public/private partnerships.

“Micron’s historic investment in New York State will create thousands of jobs, cement our manufacturing leadership, and is a testament to businesses seeing opportunities to relocate, grow and thrive in our state,” Hochul contended. “Our forward-thinking new GO SEMI office will build on that groundbreaking momentum, bringing public and private sector partners together to attract even more investment, jobs and businesses to New York State.”

The creation of GO SEMI follows Micron’s proposed $100 billion investment in Central New York to build the largest memory chip fab in the world, along with the opportunity for growth resulting from New York’s Green CHIPS program and the federal CHIPs and Science Act.

Micron plans to create nearly 50,000 jobs statewide, including 9,000 new high-paying Micron jobs with an average annual salary of over $100,000 and more than 40,000 community jobs. The project will also create thousands of prevailing-wage construction jobs, Hochul’s office noted.

When complete, the complex will include the nation’s largest clean-room space at about 2.4 million square feet, the size of nearly 40 football fields.

Federal funding to help Port of Oswego Authority make repairs to Oswego Harbor

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO — The Port of Oswego Authority will use a federal grant of nearly $18 million to help pay for the completion of repairs to Oswego Harbor’s west break wall. “Significant” repairs are needed on deteriorated sections of the west break wall, the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced Jan. 6.

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New CEO starts duties at St. Camillus, Integrity Home Care

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GEDDES — A leadership transition is underway at St. Camillus, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, and Integrity Home Care Services in the town of Geddes. The nonprofit on Jan. 16 announced Michael Schafer is now serving as president and CEO. Schafer, who started in his position on Dec. 16, previously served as VP for the

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GEDDES — A leadership transition is underway at St. Camillus, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, and Integrity Home Care Services in the town of Geddes.

The nonprofit on Jan. 16 announced Michael Schafer is now serving as president and CEO.

Schafer, who started in his position on Dec. 16, previously served as VP for the St. Camillus nursing facility for 11 years. St. Camillus is located at 813 Fay Road in the town of Geddes.

He’s succeeding Aileen Balitz, who plans to retire Jan. 27 after having served 31 years as president and CEO of St. Camillus.

Integrity Home Care Services is an affiliate of St. Camillus, which says it provides personal-care services to “help people remain safe, independent, and empowered at home.” It also provides support for caregivers.

Schafer has extensive operational knowledge, strategic experience, and the ability to develop relationships with staff, residents, donors, clinical partners, and community members, St. Camillus said. In addition, Schafer has previously served as an administrator for two other nursing facilities prior to joining St. Camillus.

“I am very excited to be provided the opportunity to lead the organization and continue to collaborate with the passionate and committed board members and St. Camillus team to navigate the organization through these challenging industry times,” Schafer said in a statement. “The collective focus remains to continue to re-vision the St. Camillus of the future and to support our greatest asset which continues to be the dedicated staff that drive the provision of quality care and services.”

About Balitz

Balitz’s career at St. Camillus spanned a total of 48 years. She started as a speech-language pathologist in 1974. Balitz was appointed president/CEO following her father’s retirement in 1991. Her father, Robert Mack, was the founding administrator of St. Camillus.

“I was privileged to work with my father,” Balitz said. “He inspired me to think more creatively, to identify and support people who had a passion for helping others and to advocate as strongly as possible for long term care.”

During her career at St. Camillus, Balitz helped to launch the Katherine Clancy Brown (KB) Rehabilitation Unit in 1992, which has provided care to thousands. She also helped oversee the start of Integrity Home Care Services in 1996 and an onsite LPN (licensed practical nurse) school with OCM BOCES in 2001.

Balitz also helped start a partnership with Upstate Medical University’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in support of St. Camillus’ brain injury and rehabilitation programs. The partnership has continued for more than 30 years, the organization noted.

In addition — through a partnership with Christopher Community in 2018 — she was part of the groundbreaking of Harborbrook Apartments, which is next to St. Camillus. Harborbrook is a 60-unit independent-housing complex, which includes 20 units that are supported by St. Camillus.

Ask Rusty: Will My Work Earnings Affect My SS Benefits?

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Dear Rusty: I am presently 67 years of age and am still working full time. I am receiving Medicare coverage, but I have not yet applied for monthly Social Security (SS) payments. I have been told that I can take SS payments even if I am still working. Is that correct? Is there a limit

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Dear Rusty: I am presently 67 years of age and am still working full time. I am receiving Medicare coverage, but I have not yet applied for monthly Social Security (SS) payments. I have been told that I can take SS payments even if I am still working. Is that correct? Is there a limit to how much I can earn each year and still receive SS payments?

Signed: Working but Wondering

Dear Working: Social Security’s so-called “earnings test” applies only to those who haven’t yet reached their full retirement age. At 67 years of age, you are already past your SS full retirement age (FRA) of 66 years and 2 months, which means there is no longer a limit to how much you can earn from working. Regardless of how much you earn, your monthly Social Security benefits will not be affected, so you can claim your Social Security at any time and not worry about your benefits being affected.

You should also know that because you haven’t yet claimed your Social Security, your monthly benefit has been growing since you reached your full retirement age in October 2021. You’ve been earning delayed retirement credits (DRCs) at the rate of 0.667 percent more benefit for each month you have delayed claiming, so your benefit now at age 67 would be over 8 percent more than it would have been at your FRA last year. And, if you wish to, you can continue waiting to claim SS and continue to earn those DRCs to get a still-higher benefit. But DRCs stop when you reach age 70, when you would get your maximum Social Security benefit — about 31 percent more than your FRA amount — so never wait past age 70 to claim.

To recap: because you’ve already passed your full retirement age you can claim your SS benefit now and get a benefit which is 8-plus percent more than you would have received if you claimed at your full retirement age, or you can continue to wait and get an even higher amount by claiming even later. Which way to go depends a lot on your current financial needs and your life expectancy. If you don’t urgently need the money now and are in good health and expect at least average longevity (about 84 for a man your current age), then waiting longer to claim would be a smart move. But if you need (or want) the money now, then claiming at this time would also be a wise choice. In either case, you don’t need to worry about your earnings from work negatively affecting your monthly Social Security benefit — they won’t.

Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Author’s note: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.

Luxury apartments planned in Endicott

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ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Atlas James Construction & Fabrication recently announced it will build a $30 million, 150-unit luxury apartment complex near the intersection of Odell Avenue and Watson Boulevard in Endicott. Atlas James Construction owner Stephen Donnelly says his Vestal–based firm is in the final stages of negotiating the parcel acquisition from Phoenix Investors, LLC,

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Atlas James Construction owner Stephen Donnelly says his Vestal–based firm is in the final stages of negotiating the parcel acquisition from Phoenix Investors, LLC, with hopes to break ground on the project in May. He is also working with the Village of Endicott and Town of Union for necessary approvals and will receive a 10-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement from The Agency – Broome County IDA/LDC

The demand for housing is only growing, he says, especially since Imperium 3 New York announced it plans to add about 1,200 jobs to Endicott’s nearby Huron Campus by 2028. Couple that with the recent announcements in support of turning the Southern Tier into a battery-technology-innovation hub, Donnelly says the need for housing, especially housing that caters to working professionals, is acute.

“If we’re going to make Endicott … a mecca for battery manufacturing, we have to make sure we have the infrastructure in place,” he says.

Consumers, especially after COVID-19, are looking for places to live that offer convenience, comfort, and for many, the ability to work from home, he notes. That’s why Serenity Tower will offer a business center, study areas, a daycare center, coffee bar, game room, 24-hour fitness center, and on-site security along with its one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartments.

The apartments will all feature energy-efficient appliances, in-unit washers and dryers, and underground parking for all residents.

Donnelly’s hope is that Serenity Tower offers up what professionals moving here from areas like the Silicon Valley or big cities are seeking. In addition, having such luxury housing available can help companies recruit that new talent.

Funding for the project comes from $10 million in private investments by Atlas James Construction & Fabrication and several private partners and $20 million in financing through M&T Bank. Atlas James Construction, with a 55 percent share, is majority owner of Serenity Tower.

Interest in the apartments has been great, Donnelly says, with most units already under pre-lease. His plan is for all of the units to be pre-leased before the building opens. He expects that opening to happen, at the earliest, at the end of 2024, but more likely toward the end of the first quarter of 2025.

“We’re excited about it,” Donnelly says.

Atlas James Construction & Fabrication will spearhead the project and partner with LeChase Construction Services, LLC, which has an office in Binghamton, on project management.

Founded in 2022, Atlas James Construction provides residential and commercial construction, general contracting, natural-stone countertops, and construction management.

SRC awarded nearly $14M contract modification from U.S. Air Force

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

CICERO — SRC Inc. was recently awarded an almost $14 million modification to previously awarded U.S. Air Force contract for the Sensor Beam Program. This pact provides for the contractor to research, analyze, technically document, and perform reviews on electromagnetic systems, events, and signatures required by all services and other U.S. agencies, according to a

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Gear Motions expands with acquisition of Auto Gear

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SYRACUSE — Gear Motions on Jan. 10 announced it has acquired Auto Gear Inc. in a deal that combines two long-time Syracuse–area gear manufacturers. The two firms have worked together for many years as separate entities and will continue those efforts as part of the same company. The Nixon Gear division of Gear Motions is

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SYRACUSE — Gear Motions on Jan. 10 announced it has acquired Auto Gear Inc. in a deal that combines two long-time Syracuse–area gear manufacturers.

The two firms have worked together for many years as separate entities and will continue those efforts as part of the same company.

The Nixon Gear division of Gear Motions is located at 1750 Milton Ave. in Solvay. The company’s Niagara Gear and Oliver / Pro-Gear divisions are situated in Buffalo, per its website. Auto Gear, located at 530 State Fair Blvd in Syracuse, specializes in low-volume gearbox production.

The deal closed on Jan. 1, Dean Burrows, president of Gear Motions, tells CNYBJ in an email. The Gear Motions announcement didn’t include any financial terms of the acquisition.

“Having been partners with Auto Gear for decades, having them join the Gear Motion’s family of companies adds to the capabilities of Gear Motions through gear box design and assembly,” Burrows said in the firm’s announcement. “This acquisition complements our existing businesses while allowing us to provide more services and capabilities. It enables Gear Motions to offer custom gear box applications to its current customer base.”

Burrows tells CNYBJ that Auto Gear will continue operating under its current name but, over time, will most likely add the tag line, “a division of Gear Motions.” About a dozen Auto Gear employees will retain their positions, Burrows added.

The Auto Gear employees are joining a firm that already employs about 40 people in its Syracuse location and about 40 people in its Buffalo locations, according to Burrows.

George Sollish, president of Auto Gear, called gearbox design and manufacturing a “Syracuse tradition.”

“As the last of our respective breed, gears by Gear Motions and gearboxes by Auto Gear are a natural partnership. I am delighted to commit my energy, my creativity, and my family’s legacy to our combination. My mission, and Auto Gear’s — ‘To Be the Best Today, and Better Tomorrow’ — is in good hands,” Sollish said in the Gear Motions announcement.

Sollish will remain with Auto Gear as its chief engineer, Burrows tells CNYBJ.

About the companies

Gear Motions is a gear manufacturer specializing in custom cut and ground gears for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) around the world. The firm says its “wide range of precision gear manufacturing capabilities and services deliver quality gears to meet almost any application — and the most demanding specifications.” Gear Motions has been in operation for more than 100 years, per its announcement.

Founded by Irving H. Sollish in 1945, Auto Gear is described as designer and manufacturer of gear box, transmission, and transfer cases serving the commercial, industrial, and high-performance automobile industries. Auto Gear’s gearboxes are found on the “streets, strips and tracks” of North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, the company said.

Former Popes’ Grove golf course sold for $900,000

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

GEDDES — The former Popes’ Grove Golf Course was recently sold for $900,000. Stephen Saleski of Sutton Real Estate Company, LLC represented the seller of the property at 695 State Fair Blvd., according to a Sutton news release. The buyer was Mike Flynn, who was represented by Tommy Kehoskie of Independent Realty. Opened in 1961,

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