ALBANY, NY: The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York (EFNENY) is excited to announce its expansion of programs and services into the Adirondack region of New York. Thanks to a dedicated fund at Adirondack Foundation that was established by a generous donor, EFNENY will provide programs and services to those affected by epilepsy, as well as their caregivers and the North Country community.

“EFNENY is grateful to Adirondack Foundation for this opportunity to extend our services, including information and referral, seizure recognition and first aid training, school education, support groups and art therapy to individuals and families affected by epilepsy who are living in the North Country. These services provide essential support for individuals and families as they navigate an often long and challenging journey through the initial diagnosis, obtaining access to the best treatment, and living with seizures,” says Jeannine Garab, the Epilepsy Foundation’s Executive Director.

“The newly established Epilepsy Support Fund – one of more than 260 charitable funds at Adirondack Foundation – supports critical initiatives to improve awareness of epilepsy and increase the understanding of the nature and impact of seizures on families who are affected,” said Cali Brooks, President and CEO of Adirondack Foundation. “Given the expertise of the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York, we are confident that grant dollars from this fund will go a long way toward helping thousands of people in the Adirondack region who are affected by epilepsy.”

One in 26 people will develop epilepsy over the course of their lifetime. Of that number, roughly one- third are unable to control their seizures with any of the treatment methods currently available.  The Epilepsy Foundation has conducted market research and will begin community outreach, with the goal of identifying the needs of people with epilepsy in the North Country.  For more information about epilepsy, or our programs and services, please contact Jeannine Garab at (518) 456-7501.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization, which offers an array of services to people with epilepsy, their families, and the community at large in 22 counties in northeastern New York, including the Capital Region, the North Country, and the Upper Hudson Valley.

Proposal Replaces “Any Size” and 10-Inch Minimum Size Limit Regulations for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass with Statewide 12-Inch Minimum

Public Comments Accepted through Jan. 23, 2021

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing changes to black bass (smallmouth and largemouth bass) fishing regulations to make these regulations easier to understand while continuing to successfully manage these species for future angler enjoyment. DEC is accepting public comment on the proposed elimination of “any size” and 10-inch minimum size limit regulations for black bass from many rivers throughout the state, as well as Lake Colby in Franklin County, Moose Pond in Essex County, and Lake Champlain. The proposal replaces these unnecessary special size limits with the statewide 12-inch-minimum black bass size limit.

“DEC is continuing our efforts to eliminate special fishing regulations that do not serve a species management purpose,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Today’s announcement encourages increased fishing participation by streamlining the State’s black bass fishing regulations and making them easier to follow without impacting fishing opportunity.”

Some rivers and streams in New York are currently managed under a 10-inch minimum size limit regulation to allow harvest of black bass populations generally believed to not grow as large as their lake and pond counterparts. However, a recent Black Bass 10-inch Minimum Size Limit Evaluation (PDF) study found no differences in the size structures or growth of smallmouth bass in rivers managed under this regulation and those from rivers and lakes managed under the statewide 12-inch minimum size limit. Smallmouth bass were the focus of the evaluation because they are more prevalent in rivers and streams than largemouth bass. There is no need to maintain the reduced minimum size limit in these rivers.

Lake Champlain is recognized as one of the best black bass lakes in the country and DEC found no justification to continue to regulate it with a minimum size limit less restrictive than the statewide 12-inch minimum size limit. “Any size” regulations for black bass in Lake Colby (Franklin County), Moose Pond (Essex County), Catatonk Creek (Tioga County), and Fall Creek (Tompkins County) are also considered unnecessary.

The regulatory proposal is available on the DEC website for review and public comment. Comments on the proposal should be submitted via e-mail to dec.sm.regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov or via mail to the Inland Fisheries Section, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753; subject line “Black Bass Regulations.” Comments will be accepted through Jan. 23, 2021.

Source: North Country Teacher Receives National Recognition – Mountain Lake PBS

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW DEPT. REPORTS OCT. 2020

New York leads the nation in what it pays to the federal government compared to what it gets back from Washington, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. New York taxpayers paid $23.7 billion more in federal taxes than the state received in federal spending in federal fiscal year 2019.

“In what has become a familiar and troubling story for the Empire State, New Yorkers send significantly more to Washington than we get back,” DiNapoli said. “At a time when the pandemic has shrunk local and state government revenues, shut down businesses and hurt families across New York, it’s never been more critical that we receive much-needed support from the federal government.”

For every tax dollar paid to Washington, the state received $0.91, well below the national average of $1.24. New Jersey is the only state that received less, with a return of $0.82. New Mexico gets the most value at $2.83 per tax dollar paid, followed by Mississippi ($2.50), West Virginia ($2.43), Alabama ($2.17) and Kentucky ($2.05).

New York’s per-capita deficit of $1,216 in its balance of payments ranked 49 among the states. Only New Jersey is higher at $2,450. On the basis of total dollars, rather than dollars per capita, New York’s ranking was last among the states.

The gap between taxes paid and spending received in New York fluctuates from year to year, but has remained consistently negative in analyses of five federal fiscal years by DiNapoli, ranging from $19.9 billion in FFY 2013 up to $40.9 billion in FFY 2016.

As in past years, the imbalance reflects New York’s comparatively high federal tax payments. The state generated over $265 billion, or 8.1 percent, of the $3.3 trillion in federal tax receipts. By contrast, the $241 billion in federal spending the state received represented 5.9 percent of the nationwide total. DiNapoli’s report found:

• New York paid 8.9 percent or nearly $152 billion of the largest federal tax source, the individual income tax.
• The largest of the broad spending categories in the federal budget represents direct payments to or for individuals for a variety of programs such as Social Security, Medicare, benefits for veterans and retired federal employees and food assistance. New York received an estimated $148.1 billion in this category, with a per capita figure that was close to the national average.
• Major programs for which the state received higher-than-average per capita expenditures include Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance and Supplemental Security Income.
• Payments from Washington for federal employee retirement benefits and veterans’ benefits to New Yorkers were lower than average on a per capita basis.
• In the second-largest spending category in the federal budget, grants to state and local governments, New York received $73.4 billion and fared better than 48 states on a per capita basis. Medicaid makes up more than half of all federal spending for such grants, and New York’s per capita Medicaid funding from Washington ranked second among the states.
• In two other major categories — procurement and federal employee compensation — federal spending in New York was less than half of the national average on a per capita basis. The state’s combined total in these two areas, $19.9 billion, was 2.4 percent of the nationwide total.

DiNapoli warned that the results of the 2020 Census may affect New York’s and other states’ balance of payments, in both the near and longer terms, as updated population counts influence the state-by-state allocation of funding in certain programs, as well as the size of each state’s Congressional delegation.

Federal funding makes up more than one in every three dollars in New York State’s budget. Stimulus and relief funding that Washington has provided in response to the coronavirus pandemic have been a financial lifeline for well over one million New Yorkers.

DiNapoli said the federal response remains incomplete. The state, its local governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other governmental entities will be forced to cut essential services, raise taxes and fees, and/or push costs to the future by borrowing to close today’s gaps if Washington does not provide additional direct aid.

Report

New York’s Balance of Payments in the Federal Budget

Source: As U.S. Reaches 250,000 Deaths From COVID-19, A Long Winter Is Coming : Coronavirus Updates : NPR

Source: Plattsburgh cleaning business sees increased demand amid rise in COVID-19 cases

Source: New Team Behind CityPlace Burlington Includes Three Vermont Business Owners | Paid Post | City | Seven Days | Vermont’s Independent Voice

Source: AuSable Valley Central switches to full remote learning | Sun Community News CLINTONVILLE | AuSable Valley Central School District is moving to remote learning effective immediately after a middle-school student tested positive for COVID-19.

Total CURRENT Cases today: 24
New Cases Today: 7
New Hospitalizations Today: 1
New Deaths Today: 0
Total # of COVID-19 Tests: 30,029
Total # of COVID-19 Positive Cases: 282
Total # of COVID-19 Antibody Tests: 3732
Total Positive Antibody Tests: 89

Extracted from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Nov. 17th COVID-19 Update

New Yorkers can now take free online courses through Coursera. In partnership with Coursera, we launched a free online platform for New Yorkers to learn new job skills, earn certificates and advance their careers. At a time when unemployment has risen due to the pandemic, we hope these online courses will help New Yorkers get back on their feet. So, whether you’re unemployed, underemployed, or are simply interested in learning new skills, check it out and sign up.

Source: First Read Tonight

Source: Update: Cuomo says he won’t take $25,000 pay raise as NY faces budget deficit – syracuse.com

Source: New York State minimum wage 2021: A raise is coming – syracuse.com

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

The Syracuse Post Standard is reporting the Tops Friendly Markets in limiting purchases of the following items:

Tops said it would limit the following items to one purchase per customer (list as of Monday, 11/16):

• Toilet paper multipacks
• Paper towel multipacks
• Household cleaners
• Disinfectant sprays
• Disinfectant wipes

Tops is limiting the following to two per shopper:

• Baby wipes
• Oatmeal
• Peanut butter
• Sugar, all brands and all sizes
• Liquid hand soap
• Paper napkins
• Kitchen trash bags
• Freezer bags
• Storage bags
• Paper plates
• Disposable rubber/latex or nitrile gloves

“As we continue to best serve you and our community, we are working diligently to get the products you need on the shelves as quickly as possible,” Tops’ website says. “Manufacturers are trying to meet high demand right now for household products like paper, detergents, cleaners, and other essentials like bread, canned and frozen foods. At times, we may be temporarily out of something. Or we have to limit the number of items you can purchase so that we can serve all customers.”