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CICERO, N.Y. — SRC, Inc. announced it has hired Gwendolyn Sykes as executive VP, finance, and CFO. Sykes is succeeding Phil Fazio, who is retiring
Oneida County unveils redesigned website
UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County recently launched a newly redesigned website that it says is easier to use and has several new features. The new site, which users can visit at www.ocgov.net, features a mobile-first design compatible with modern devices and browsers, a new user experience and interface design, and navigation that allows quick access
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UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County recently launched a newly redesigned website that it says is easier to use and has several new features.
The new site, which users can visit at www.ocgov.net, features a mobile-first design compatible with modern devices and browsers, a new user experience and interface design, and navigation that allows quick access to pertinent information on the user end.
The site also uses current industry standards and best practices in design and technology, a state-of-the-art and robust content-management system for intuitive and easy client-side management, and the latest analytics platform that will help the county measure the website’s performance. New Hartford–based TRAINOR, which describes itself as a digitally driven brand management collaborative, designed the new site.
“We recognized there was a need to refresh our county website in order to provide the optimal user experience for residents, visitors, and those interested in relocating to the area,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. said in a release. “The redesign was an enormous undertaking that involved all of our county departments working collaboratively with TRAINOR to help create a website that is user-friendly and efficient.”
Looking to the future, the website allows for scalability as the county grows including showcasing future projects and developments; highlighting new department information, services, and offerings; and sharing new attractions, dining, and recreation opportunities.
“The Oneida County website is often the first resource for residents and visitors who are looking for information about our county and its services,” Picente said. “As we grow and continue to flourish, we are excited to offer a website that will help residents, businesses, and those looking to move to or do business here easily find all the information they need.”
AFP announces new chapter administrator
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Central New York (AFP CNY) recently named Babette Puzey as its new chapter administrator. Puzey has been the special-events coordinator for Arc of Onondaga since May 2019 and says she enjoys working for a local nonprofit. She also sits on the board of directors for Music
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Central New York (AFP CNY) recently named Babette Puzey as its new chapter administrator.
Puzey has been the special-events coordinator for Arc of Onondaga since May 2019 and says she enjoys working for a local nonprofit. She also sits on the board of directors for Music for the Mission and the Syracuse Area Music Awards, according to an AFP CNY news release.
Puzey served as vendor director for the New York State Blues Festival from November 2011 through July 2022 and was the festival’s board secretary from 2017-2022. She assisted with marketing for the Blues Festival and its other related events.
Puzey is passionate about helping others in the CNY community and frequently volunteers for organizations such as McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
“Fundraisers and events have become my wheelhouse and I’m happy to donate my time and efforts whenever and wherever I can,” she said in the release.
In her spare time, Puzey is an amateur photographer and outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, and spending time in the Adirondacks, as well as other beautiful places throughout New York state and the Northeast. Puzey also performs as a vocalist in an acoustic duo with her partner, Todd Brown.
Puzey is looking forward to working with AFP CNY and networking with others in the world of fundraising.
“We all have a common goal to make a difference in our own little corner of the world and make positive changes. I’m glad I can make small contributions to helping others in our community; it makes my heart happy,” Puzey said.
AFP CNY says it is a professional association for individuals responsible for generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of nonprofit, charitable organizations across Central New York.
Lifecare Medical Associates adds adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
SENECA FALLS, N.Y. — Lifecare Medical Associates, a unit of Geneva–based Finger Lakes Health, announced it has hired Shannon Picchi as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. Lifecare Medical Associates is located at 1991 Balsley Road in Seneca Falls. Its providers see patients of all ages from newborns to geriatrics. Picchi brings more than 20
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SENECA FALLS, N.Y. — Lifecare Medical Associates, a unit of Geneva–based Finger Lakes Health, announced it has hired Shannon Picchi as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner.
Lifecare Medical Associates is located at 1991 Balsley Road in Seneca Falls. Its providers see patients of all ages from newborns to geriatrics.
Picchi brings more than 20 years of health-care experience, most recently serving as a registered nurse and case manager at Rochester Regional Health Homecare and Hospice in Newark in Wayne County.
Picchi completed her master’s degree in nursing from Keuka College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Roberts Wesleyan College and her associate in nursing from Finger Lakes Community College. Picchi began her career in health care at Wayne County BOCES in Newark, where she completed her training as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA.
Bassett Healthcare plans to expand K-9 security unit
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network is expanding its K-9 security team and will add another K-9 unit this winter. “Over the past few years,
Broome County hotel occupancy unchanged in November, other key indicators rise 8 percent
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Broome County hotels had a mixed month in November. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county was unchanged at 56.4 percent compared to a year earlier. That was the worst monthly performance in this measure in 2022 as occupancy had increased every month before that,
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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Broome County hotels had a mixed month in November.
The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county was unchanged at 56.4 percent compared to a year earlier. That was the worst monthly performance in this measure in 2022 as occupancy had increased every month before that, ranging from a nearly 4 percent rise to a more than 45 percent gain. Year to date through November, occupancy was up 15.7 percent to 61.7 percent.
Two other important indicators of business performance for Broome County hotels posted healthy gains in November.
Revenue per available room (RevPar), an industry gauge that measures how much money hotels are bringing in per available room, increased 8.1 percent to $57.99 in the 11th month of 2022 compared to the same month the year prior. Through the first 11 months of 2022, RevPar had climbed 34.9 percent to $66.74.
Average daily rate (ADR), which represents the average rental rate for a sold room, also rose 8.1 percent to $102.74 in the county in November, compared to November 2021. For the full 11-month period, ADR was up 16.6 percent to $108.20.
Upstate Medical, Syracuse Crunch partner on opioid- abuse prevention campaign
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University and the Syracuse Crunch are partnering on a public-education campaign to fight opioid use and overdose. Assemblymember Pamela Hunter (D–Syracuse) secured a grant to help fund the program, Upstate Medical said in a release. Crouse Health is also participating in the campaign. Howard Dolgon, who owns the Syracuse Crunch,
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University and the Syracuse Crunch are partnering on a public-education campaign to fight opioid use and overdose.
Assemblymember Pamela Hunter (D–Syracuse) secured a grant to help fund the program, Upstate Medical said in a release. Crouse Health is also participating in the campaign.
Howard Dolgon, who owns the Syracuse Crunch, said the team will develop an initiative to use its platform and players to bring messages to general audiences. The Crunch will also connect with athletic trainers and student-athletes on issues related to opioid use.
Dr. Robert Corona, CEO of Upstate University Hospital, applauded the participation of the Crunch in this initiative.
“Athletes are heroes to a lot of kids,” Corona said. “A lot of the kids that end up taking pain medications are athletes. So, their heroes are people like the Crunch athletes, so they’ll listen to them.”
Opioid abuse may result from the misuse of prescribed drugs, Upstate Medical said. Prescription opioids are often prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain following surgery or injury, the health system noted.
New CEO is quite familiar with Menorah Park
“My paternal grandparents were Menorah Park residents — my grandmother at the Jewish Home and my grandfather at the Oaks,” Russell D’Amico said. “I was a frequent visitor, got to know the staff and appreciated the kindness and attention my grandparents received. My father, Ronald D’Amico, was the podiatrist at Menorah Park for many years.
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“My paternal grandparents were Menorah Park residents — my grandmother at the Jewish Home and my grandfather at the Oaks,” Russell D’Amico said. “I was a frequent visitor, got to know the staff and appreciated the kindness and attention my grandparents received. My father, Ronald D’Amico, was the podiatrist at Menorah Park for many years. Menorah Park’s continuum of care and its local focus and deep roots in Central New York are its calling card and what drew me to this position. I’m looking forward to getting to know our residents, our staff members, and collaborating with entire senior executive team, including the board.”
D’Amico started his CEO duties at Menorah Park on Dec. 15.
As the new top executive, D’Amico succeeds longtime CEO Mary Ellen Bloodgood, who has transitioned to a new role as chief development officer of the Menorah Park Foundation, per Menorah Park’s Jan. 9 announcement.
Menorah Park is located at 4101 E. Genesee St. in the town of DeWitt.
D’Amico has worked in Central New York’s senior health-care community and as an educator in related areas for more than 16 years. He most recently served as VP of administration and long-term care at Auburn Community Hospital’s skilled-nursing facility. Before that, he was an administrator of several Loretto health-care facilities.
In addition to his work experience, D’Amico has been a faculty member at Bryant & Stratton College, teaching courses in health-care administration.
D’Amico earned a master’s degree in health-services administration from Strayer University, received a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from SUNY Cortland, and is a licensed nursing-home administrator.
Menorah Park says it offers a “broad range of high-quality, affordable health, housing, and community services and programs, providing a more comprehensive, cohesive, and holistic approach to healthy aging.”
Upstate consumer sentiment rises in Q4 in Siena survey
Consumer sentiment in upstate New York and statewide rose in the fourth quarter, compared to the prior quarter but remained well below pre-pandemic levels, according to a new survey. The Siena College Research Institute (SRI) measured upstate New York consumer sentiment at 65.5 in the fourth quarter, up 6.4 points from the last measure of
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Consumer sentiment in upstate New York and statewide rose in the fourth quarter, compared to the prior quarter but remained well below pre-pandemic levels, according to a new survey.
The Siena College Research Institute (SRI) measured upstate New York consumer sentiment at 65.5 in the fourth quarter, up 6.4 points from the last measure of 59.1 in the third quarter of 2022. The results were part of the institute’s latest quarterly survey of consumer sentiment released on Jan. 4.
SRI measured the statewide consumer-sentiment level at 72.3, up 1.5 points from the third quarter. The statewide figure was 12.6 points higher than the fourth-quarter reading of 59.7 for the entire nation, which was up 1.5 from the third-quarter number, as measured by the University of Michigan’s consumer-sentiment index.
New York’s current index increased nearly 3 points to 66.7 and the future index edged up nearly 1 point, resulting in New York’s measure of future expectations moving up from 75.2 in the third quarter to 75.9 in the fourth quarter. Both the New York and national indexes all increased about 1-3 points.
Overall confidence remains higher in New York than across the nation. Future confidence in the Empire State is just above the breakeven point of balanced optimism and pessimism and 16 points higher than national future confidence.
Both New York’s consumer sentiment and the nation’s consumer sentiment “picked up ever so slightly” over the fourth quarter with New York’s index continuing to outpace the country’s by nearly 13 points, according to Don Levy, SRI director.
“While Democrats and New York City residents record scores that display more optimism than pessimism, the largest increases in sentiment this quarter were among Republicans — up nearly 8 points — and Upstaters — up over 6 points,” Levy said in the SRI report. “Lingering inflation, food prices, and political uncertainty may explain NY’s current sentiment measurement remaining over 20 points lower than the pre-pandemic level. Still, demand for major consumer goods is high most especially for cars/trucks at over 25% the highest since fall of ‘19.”
In the fourth quarter of 2022, buying plans were up 3.8 percentage points from the third-quarter measurement to 25.5 for cars and trucks. Buying plans were down 2.9 points to 26.1 percent for major home improvements, edged down 1 point to 28.4 percent for furniture, slid 2.2 points to 44.8 percent for consumer electronics, and declined 2.5 points to 11.5 percent for homes, the SRI said.
Gas and food prices
In SRI’s quarterly analysis of gas and food prices, 68 percent of upstate New York respondents said the price of gas was having a serious impact on their monthly budgets, which is down from 74 percent in the third and second quarters of 2022 and 73 percent in the first quarter.
In addition, 66 percent of statewide respondents said the price of gas was having a serious impact on their monthly spending plans, down from 69 percent in the third and second quarters of last year and the same as the figure from the first quarter of 2022.
When asked about food prices, 80 percent of upstate respondents indicated the price of groceries was having a serious impact on their finances, down from 84 percent in the third quarter of 2022 and from 82 percent in the second quarter.
At the same time, 79 percent of statewide respondents indicated the price of food was having a serious impact on their monthly finances, up from 78 percent in third quarter of 2022 but down from 80 percent in the second quarter of last year.
SRI conducted its survey of consumer sentiment on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 by random telephone calls to 403 New York adults via landline and cell phone. It has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, the institute said.
Cornell to boost financial aid for all qualifying undergrads in 2023
ITHACA, N.Y. — All Cornell University undergraduate students who qualify for financial aid in 2023 will receive increases in university grant aid. That’s according to a recent announcement from Cornell, citing the “success of the ongoing ‘To Do the Greatest Good’ campaign. About 4,700 students will get increases in grant aid of between $500 and
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ITHACA, N.Y. — All Cornell University undergraduate students who qualify for financial aid in 2023 will receive increases in university grant aid.
That’s according to a recent announcement from Cornell, citing the “success of the ongoing ‘To Do the Greatest Good’ campaign.
About 4,700 students will get increases in grant aid of between $500 and $1,500 for the spring semester, with a corresponding reduction in self-help aid, comprising student contributions, loans, and work-study expectations.
Additional policy changes will result in more aid for the 2023-24 academic year, with 7,100 students getting increases up to $1,800, including reductions in self-help aid. The increase in grant aid is possible because of Cornell’s initial investment of nearly $14 million for the coming year, the school noted in a mid-December release.
The changes in policy, which will extend beyond the 2023-24 school year, begin to “fulfill the affordability goals that are central” to the “To Do the Greatest Good” campaign to raise $5 billion. That will include $500 million in endowment and current-use funds for undergraduate financial aid, Cornell said.
Jonathan Burdick, vice provost for enrollment at Cornell, said the “swift and generous” response from Cornell donors — raising $323 million towards the $500 million goal since the campaign began — has allowed Cornell to increase support now, ahead of meeting final goals in 2026.
The total estimated cost to attend Cornell in the current 2022-23 academic year at its endowed colleges is $83,296 — including tuition, housing, meals, and books — but before financial aid is applied, according to the Cornell website. The total cost for New York state residents to attend one of Cornell’s state contract colleges, such as the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, is $62,798, before financial aid. Non-New York state residents attending the Cornell state contract colleges pay the endowed-colleges rate.
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