Dear eNews Reader,
Summer is in full swing, with events and activities and heat. Please stay safe no matter how you spend the time. And please look out for your vulnerable neighbors and pets. My office is always available for information and assistance, so please don’t hesitate to call: 607-723-9047.
Donna
My Last Legislative Session Wraps Up in Albany
My final legislative session ended with well wishes and sad goodbyes. Thank you to Speaker Heastie for your support over the years, and for your kind remarks and retirement sendoff. My Legislative Director and Albany Office Manager are also retiring; there will never be enough words of gratitude to express to Amy Abbati and Joan Marcy. With about 6 months to go, my focus turns back to the district where I’ll be attending local events and responding to local needs.
Breaking Ground on Roosevelt Elementary
Earlier this month we broke ground on the renovation and reconstruction of Roosevelt Elementary. This came after years of advocacy and effort to modernize a vitally important school and community hub on Binghamton’s North Side. A shoutout goes to 2nd grader Adelynn Megway who spoke about how much the school means to her and the entire Roosevelt family. Thank you to Senator Lea Webb for her partnership in securing the financing, along with the Binghamton City School District and numerous community members for always believing that this would happen.
Bing Bottling Up and Running
I enjoyed touring Bing Bottling’s facility located at the former Pepsi plant on Broad Avenue in Binghamton earlier this month. In addition to bottling Little Venice sauce, Bing Bottling will soon be bottling other businesses’ products. Their 80-year legacy in our community and commitment to helping new businesses grow is something to be appreciated. We need more processors and bottlers like this to help New York’s food economy grow.
Coppens Intergenerational Campus
We recently celebrated the retirement of my friend Carole Coppens as she steps down from her position as the Executive Director of the YWCA after 26 years. At her retirement party she was surprised to learn that the Intergenerational Campus she worked on for many years will bear her name. This is a fitting tribute to someone who has given so much to our community and helped so many along the way. All the best to you Carole.
Enjoying Local Events
I’ve been enjoying many local events this summer, such as the St. Anthony’s Italian Feast Days, Pride Palooza, and the Dick’s Open. I was also surprised with a beautiful arrangement of flowers to celebrate my retirement at VINES’ annual summer potluck, and enjoyed UUP Night at the Rumble Ponies where they recognized me before the game.
Community Announcements
Donations Still Being Accepted for Victims of Knights Inn Fire
Our community has been very generous in response to the tragic fire at the Knights Inn in Endwell last week. The effort to support affected individuals and families who lost everything is still ongoing. The United Way is still accepting donations to support those affected with replacing essential items; any amount helps.
Star Benefits
NYS will soon be issuing School Tax Relief (STAR) benefits ahead of the property tax deadline. 153,000 taxpayers in the Southern Tier are eligible, representing a $103.4M benefit. If you own your home and make $500K or less, you are likely eligible for the Basic STAR benefit, with income-eligible seniors typically eligible for the Enhanced STAR benefit. Eligible New Yorkers must be enrolled in the STAR program to receive their benefit, which will come in the form of a check mailed to your home or direct deposit (those who have owned their home since before 2015 may receive the benefit in the form of a reduction on their school tax bill, but this method is no longer available to newer homeowners).
Please call my office for assistance or learn more here: https://www.tax.ny.gov/star/
OPWDD Listening Session July 16th
The NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is hosting a listening session on Thursday, July 16th from 11am – 1pm at the Broome County Public Library. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences with navigating the OPWDD system, suggestions for improvement, and hopes for the future in an effort to inform their 2028-2032 Strategic Plan.
Register here: https://opwdd.ny.gov/node/17116
Deadline Extended for Essential Plan Cooling Program
The New York State of Health has extended the deadline for applications to its Essential Plan Cooling Program until Monday, July 6th at 5pm. Essential Plan members with qualifying health conditions that are made worse by extreme heat are eligible for a free air conditioner that will be delivered and installed at no additional cost.
More information here: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/CoolingProgram