Oswego County Business, #196: February- March 2025 by Oswego County Business Magazine

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The Upstate Cancer Center provides services offered nowhere else in the region. With the strength of academic medicine, patients have a team of experts devoted to their type of cancer. Upstate is among the select centers in the nation to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer multiple times.

In our newest location in Verona, we o er the same convenient access to surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and clinical trials.

THE UPSTATE ADVANTAGE

Our newest location in Verona.

MICRON: THE LATEST AT COMPUTER CHIP FABS

2025 OUTLOOK: WHAT BIG AND SMALL EMPLOYERS EXPECT ASSEMBLYMAN WILL BARCLAY: MANY REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC

Manufacturing: CNY Region Now a ‘Hot Spot’

Hottest Professions: What’s in Big Demand in CNY Now?

Labor Market: Are Employers Finding the Help They Need?

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Growth in CNY

Top Projects in Oswego County, CNY

Austin Wheelock: A Vision for Oswego County’s Economic Growth

Small Business: Economy Tough for Mom-and-Pops

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U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Poets and Quants, Fortune Education

ADVERTISING INDEX

Evergreen Hills Golf Course .....25

Excellus - BlueCross BlueShield 116

Felix Schoeller North America 51

Fitzgibbons Agency ..................37

FlynnStoned Cannabis Company .............................25 Food Bank of CNY 27

Foster Funeral Home 103 Fulton Community Development Agency 77

Oswego Motor Express 81

Savings Bank.................46

Taxi 99 Fulton Tool Co. .........................99 Gartner Equipment 63 Gosch Supply 24 Greater

Crouse Hospital 2 E J USA 71 Edward Jones – Rochelle Peabody (Pulaski) 41 Elemental Management Group 90

PUBLISHER’S

Progress Issue

We have a tradition of publishing a Progress Issue right at the first quarter of the year. It’s a time we look at many of the key sectors of the economy and assess where we are.

You’d better believe it: the area is on the cusp of great economic development.

Just flip through the pages of this edition of Oswego County Business and check what “people in the know” are saying.

Clearly, the sense is that many parts are moving quickly and getting ready for big things. This is triggered mostly by the construction of Micron, a $100 billion project that has been in the works for a few years already. It seems that, finally, we’re about to see some construction going on this year.

The head of U.S. government and public affairs at Micron, Bo Machayo, tells writer Deborah J. Sergeant the plant will be partially operational in 2027. Altogether, the project should take several years to be fully implemented.

It’s expected to create 50,000 jobs in Central New York (9,000 of those are direct jobs).

“We are becoming a fast-growing community,” says Rob Simpsom, the chief executive officer of CenterState CEO, in an interview with Oswego County Business. “There is a noted shift in community mindset, from ‘is this real,’ to ‘we deserve to win.’ I hear it in meetings and it’s highlighted in the data shared in this year’s economic forecast report. In fact, 86% describe Central New York’s 2025 economic outlook as good or excellent.”

Randy Wolken, the head of MACNY — Manufacturers Association of Central New York, could not be more optimistic. He said, “The Central New York region is a hot spot for manufacturing. It is pretty exciting. We are very pleased that this is happening.”

Wolken estimates that the region will add 100,000 people over the next 20 years.

The momentum is here. We hope it continues.

For this issue, we interviewed dozens of sources: government officials, small business owners, plant managers,

stories featuring the Progress Issue in 2005, 2015 and 2017..

professionals, you name it. The idea was to get a glimpse of what they’re thinking about the economy. For the most part they are optimistic.

We also developed several feature stories, among them a profile of Rose Anthony, a tavern owner in Granby. What’s remakable about her is that at 99 years of age, she goes to work every day — no plans to retire just yet. Another story is about the growing number of churches for sale in New York state — 56, including one in Pulaski. Buyers can obtain that property for $99,000.

Another feature I find interesting in this issue is about the Thrifty Shoppers stores, operated by Rescue Mission in Syracuse. Their 17 locations generate $19 million in sales. Wow!

We always strive to bring as much information about economic development, the local economy and businesses as we can. I hope this edition shows that.

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

Wagner Dotto editor@cnybusinessmag.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Stefan Yablonski syablonski@twcny.rr.com

WRITERS

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Stefan Yablonski

Aaron Gifford, Mary Beth Roach

Tom Caraccioli, Jerry Caraccioli

COLUMNISTS

Austin Wheelock, Tim Nekritz

Julie McMahon, Cheryl Baldwin

Joe Murabito, Sara Broadwell

ADVERTISING

Peggy Kain | p3ggyk@gmail.com

Rob Elia | roblocalnews@gmail.com

SECRETARY

Ann Marie Cliff localnewsoffice@gmail.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN Angel Campos Toro

COVER DESIGN Jillian Siriphanthong

OSWEGOCOUNTYBUSINESS.COM

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS MAGAZINE is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., publisher of the Business Guide, Upstate Summer, Fall, & Winter guides, College Life Newspaper, In Good Health—The Healthcare Newspaper (across four regions) and 55 Plus Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester and Central New York.

Subscription rate is $30 a year; $40 for two years. Single-copy price is $600. PRSRT STD US Postage PAID, Buffalo, NY, Permit No. 4725.

WAGNER DOTTO is the editor and publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.

HOW TO REACH US: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. Phone: 315-342-8020 editor@OswegoCountyBusiness.com

Samples of cover

■TMS works by stimulating the neurons in the area of the brain that depression impacts most. ■TMS targets key areas of the brain to strengthen those responsible for managing depressive symptoms. ■

DINING OUT RESTAURANT GUIDE

CLEVELAND HOUSE

Great burgers and service at no-frills, cozy spot on North Shore of Oneida Lake

By Julie McMahon

Margarita flatbread ($10.95): Lathered with pesto and balsamic drizzle, the flatbreads were a good size portion for an appetizer or an entrée.

The Cleveland House is a simple, cozy spot on the North Shore of Oneida Lake that cranks out excellent burgers and solid service at an affordable price.

We arrived around 6 p.m. on a Friday night when it was still pretty slow. A few people sat around the bar and one table was occupied, by a couple that wrapped up their meal and waved their compliments on the burgers on the way out.

Soon, we had drinks in our bellies and were awaiting our food, when it filled up a bit, including with some ice fisherman fresh off the lake.

For drinks, mostly cans and some bottles are available. There’s your standard light beer selection as well as Heineken and Guinness, and if you ask the bartender, a more extensive selection of craft beers. The bartender, who was also serving the rest of the room, was knowledgeable about their IPAs, and rattled off five or six they had. We selected a Fiddlehead ($6) and Big Ditch Hayburner ($7). The beers were cold and crisp.

The server was a master of her

trade, bartending and handling tables, including eight seats at the bar and six tables at this lakeside spot. The wooden interior and exterior give the place a homey feel. There’s a sense that many people know one another, that it’s the local watering hole, but it’s also welcoming to outsiders. It feels extra cozy and warm in the winter. It’s right across the road from Oneida Lake on state Route 49 — with signs advertising the route on the walls, along with cute sayings like “Loving Life at the Lake.”

Cleveland House offers a no-frills menu, with a selection of flatbreads and appetizers, sandwiches “from the grill” and burgers, as well as pasta dishes including riggies and a fettucine alfredo. The bar and grill is open for lunch and dinner.

The appetizer took a decent amount of time to come out, but it was piping hot

and

delicious. We started with the margarita flatbread ($10.95). It was lathered with pesto and balsamic drizzle, a sweet and nutty flavor. The tomato gave it a nice tang, and the mozzarella cheese pull topped off the experience of eating a pizza.

The flatbreads were a good size portion for an appetizer or an entrée.

Classic rock played on the stereo, and accompanying music videos played on a big TV in the back. Artists featured included Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, and KISS. It was entertaining, kind of a divey vibe but fun.

The entrees arrived quickly after we finished the appetizer.

We heard the burgers were good so chose the blue bacon burger ($14.95),

Cleveland House’s logo on a table inside the restaurant.

which came out perfectly cooked to medium as ordered – and stamped with a giant “CH” on the bun – a special, unique touch.

The bacon was crispy but not overcooked, and the burger had just the right amount of blue cheese to complement the other ingredients. After the first bite, I found myself mumbling, “what a good burger.” It held together and wasn’t a mess, or too soggy. The flavors were great and textures blended together nicely.

The fries served on the side were fried to perfection, really good crispy hand-cut fries.

We also ordered the shaved steak sandwich ($15.45) with onion rings ($2 extra). The steak melted in our mouths, and the onion rings were also fried to perfection, battered, with a nice crunch to them. The side dishes were simple but very good.

The shaved steak itself was served with choice of cheese — we went with American — as well as peppers, onions and mushrooms. The steak was tender, the peppers stood out and gave the dish a lot of flavor. The bun was filled but could close with a good ratio of steak to veggies. This was just what you’d expect from a shaved steak sandwich. A nicely made classic.

The dishes were served in good, large portions.

Our bill clocked in at $68 for three beers, our appetizer and two entrees, including tax. The dishes were possible to finish, maybe have some leftovers, and won’t leave you wanting.

Overall this spot was a hidden gem on the lake for a good hearty meal, with bonus points for good service.

www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100075804656541

Wednesday through Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Bue bacon burger ($14.95): It came out perfectly cooked to medium as ordered — and stamped with a giant “CH.” After the first bite, I found myself mumbling, “what a good burger.”

The steak melted in our mouths, and the onion rings were also fried to perfection, battered, with a nice crunch to them.

Cold and crip: A wide variety of beers is available at Cleveland House, including Fiddlehead ($6) and Big Ditch Hayburner ($7).

HOW I GOT STARTED

By Stefan Yablonski

Q: How much did you have to invest to get started?

After working for more than 20 years at a car dealership, Justin Taber decided to start his own business, Torbitt’s Service Center at 5837 Route 104.

Q: When did you start?

A: I’ve been here since 2022. Torbitt’s Service Center has been around since 1965.

Q: What did you do before this?

A: I worked at Burritt’s. I was there for 23 years.

Q: So, how did this all come about?

A: The former owner knew me and that I had fixed cars for a lot of people. He said he thought I’d be right for the job and he trusted me.

A: I invested $50,000. I kept the people — two techs and I hired a third recently. So it’s just the four of us right now.

Q: From employee to owner. Was there a learning curve?

A: Yes.

Q: Any problems?

A: The computer end of it. We have some new systems now, so it’s pretty much straight forward, user-friendly now. One of the hardest parts for me was not actually working on cars … just doing the customer service.

Q: What services do you offer?

A: We do everything from a flat tire to an engine overhaul. It’s pretty busy.

Q: You have a considerable background as a mechanic.

A: Yes. My grandfather was a mechanic, too. And he owned the Sunoco station in New Haven for many years. My dad was a mechanic, also at Burritt’s. Then he went to the Mexico [school district] bus garage and retired as a mechanic. So I was like third generation at Burritt’s.

Q: What has changed with today’s cars?

A: Nowadays you have all the hybrid nonsense. Now everything is basically with a computer — a computer to fix a computer on the car.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: I enjoy working with the customers; just to see the variety of people from college kids to the people who come here yearly for their inspection and oil change. They have been coming here for years or they followed me because they trusted me. The numbers of customers are going up.

Q: If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

A: I’d probably still be working on cars up there [at Burritt’s].

Q: What made you decide to take the leap?

A: Gone as far I could as an employee. I’m not getting any younger.

Q: So you thinking about slowing down, maybe retiring?

A: I have a ways to go before I think about retiring. I’m happy here.

PROFILE

By Stefan Yablonski

ROBERT GRIFFIN

Helping small businesses grow and succeed is his goal

Robert Griffin, the head of Onondaga Small Business Development Center, is in charge of a territory that includes eight counties, including Onondaga and Oswego.

The SBDC provides with no cost, individualized and confidential business consulting to start-up and existing businesses.

“I was born in California and lived most of my youth in Texas; I kind of call Texas my home,” Griffin said.

He graduated high school there and graduated from Angelo State University in San Angelo with a degree in business administration, specializing in market research.

“My father was a businessman. I always had some kind of interest there,” he said. “At one point I thought I was going to go into accounting and then realized there were way too many rules there. Decided I wanted to be a little more flexible in terms of my career. Business administration was broader.

“I did have some interest in business management and strategy and things like that. I think that is why I ended up more in the business administration side of things.”

He got his professional start in New York in the tourism industry, as deputy and then director of the Tioga County Tourism Office, an agency of the Tioga County Local Development Corporation.

“I spent the next few years in various marketing leadership roles in the hospitality industry, overseeing teams in corporate food service, a hotel convention center and even a casino,” he

said. He became regional director of the Onondaga SBDC in March of 2022.

“I have a wonderful group here,” he said. “Just making sure we are present, available and accessible so that the people who do need help know that they can come to us. We have the expertise and knowledge in order to be effective.

“I’m surrounded by a very talented team for which I am eternally grateful. I sometimes learn as much from them as they do from me,” he added. “Collectively I think that has a lot of benefit for the people that we are here to help.”

Just coming out of college, he met his wife; “she brow-beat me into moving to New York,” he quipped.

He’s been in New York since 1996.

“Until 2022, I was a resident of Endicott,” he said. “I have two grown children: 26-year-old daughter, Lydia (SUNY Cortland ’21) and a 24-yearold son, Alex (SUNY Oswego ’22). She works primarily in human resources and is really good at it. My son is an extremely talented videographer, photographer and multi-media editor.”

“I get around a little bit. A lot of it involves camping and the outdoors. I do a lot of kayaking. I estimated that I kayaked around 200 miles this past summer. It was phenomenal; I loved every minute of it,” he continued. “I’m not a huge fan of hanging out in the elements during the wintertime, like I used to. For the most part I’ll do a little hiking during the winter, but that’s about the extent of it. At some point I probably will be heading south to do a little more kayaking where it’s a little warmer.

“I play tennis. I’ve been remodeling a house; that takes up a fair amount of time. I do follow sports, I am a football fan. I follow the Green Bay Packers and I’m a huge hockey fan. I love the sport of hockey — and I am a long-suffering Buffalo Sabers fan. I enjoy going to hockey games anytime I get the opportunity.”

Micron ready

The reality is that the ripple effect of Micron really won’t be felt for a while yet, he said, adding, “We are trying to be as ready as we can be.

“I think we have reason to be optimistic. Based on the work being done by all the economic partners in the area I think that optimism is well-founded,” he continued. “Now is our time. There is so much collaboration happening; I don’t know if that’s ever been seen before around here. That’s very cool and exciting.”

Business ideas vary widely, he pointed out.

“You’re not going to always have the same outcome even if it is a similar skill set. There are so many variables,” he said. “We always have to tailor how we communicate to perspective business owners or existing business owners.”

Something that he has been beating the drum on for a while now, for a couple years — “is existing business owners could avail themselves of the services and support that we provide by addressing a number of problems and business challenges they might have,” he said. “But they don’t and the reason

I think that is is a lot of them think they already have all the answers and don’t know that they are in trouble. Or they know they are in trouble and don’t know that we can help them. They’re just afraid to have the conversation because they don’t want to know.

“Business owners come in all shapes and sizes. Existing business owners can benefit from talking with us. ‘How am I doing compared to others?’ We can help them develop plans that will help them become more efficient and more profitable or whatever.”

There are plenty of ways they can help existing business owners, he added. They might not be well prepared for the future; with the coming of Micron for example and the impact on their workforce — “have they thought about that?”

Only about 25% of the people that the Small Business Development Center sees are existing business owners.

“We typically see 1,600-plus clients per year. A lot of existing business owners aren’t talking to us and that keeps me up at night,” he said. “A lot of businesses close unnecessarily.”

The SBDC has a staff of eight: seven business advisers plus a coordinator and the director. “So a total staff of nine. The team loves what we do, that’s why we do it,” he said. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of the knowledge that as I drive down the road and I see this business or that business and think, ‘you know what, we helped that business change their life and succeed.’”

Lifelines

Name: Robert Griffin

Position: Regional Director, Onondaga SBDC

Birth Date: December 1972

Birth Place: Chico, California

Residence: Syracuse

Education: BA, Business Administration

Affiliations: Exit Planning Institute (certified exit planning Adviser), board member, Greater Syracuse Business Development Corporation

Personal/family: two kids

Hobbies: Hiking, tennis and

At NBT Bank, our goal is to help you reach yours. Our relationship managers provide the expert guidance and custom solutions it takes to help grow your business. Our local commitment builds strong, long-lasting partnerships that maximize your potential for success.

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Michael Murphy, Ben Verrette, Jonathan Spilka, Austin French, Lori Teifke, Richard Driscoll, David Kavney, Michelle Corapi, John Mason, Robert Markowski, Nicholas Petrovich, Robert Vertucci, Andrew March

Oswego County Credit Union Recognized as Outstanding Corporation

Oswego County Federal Credit Union (OCFCU) has been selected as the 2024 Outstanding Corporation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central NY Chapter (AFP-CNY). This prestigious award acknowledges OCFCU’s unwavering dedication to community service and philanthropy.

The Outstanding Corporation Award honors organizations that exemplify exceptional commitment through financial support and inspire others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community engagement. Oswego County Federal Credit Union was nominated and chosen for its outstanding contributions to the community and positively impacting the lives of its members and local residents.

“We are honored to receive this award,” said Bill Carhart, CEO of OCFCU. “It reflects our team’s hard work, commitment, and support from our great community and members. At OCFCU, we strongly believe in giving back and making a difference in the lives of those we serve.”

OCFCU’s philanthropic initiatives include the popular Movies in the Park, a summer series offering free, family-friendly entertainment in local parks; Gloves with Love, which provides warm winter clothing to those in need across Oswego County; and CU Cares, where each branch donates to local organizations, directly supporting the communities they serve.

The award celebration was held on National Philanthropy Day, which honors the charitable contributions of individuals and organizations that enrich communities, on November 15 at Bella Domani Catering and Banquets in North Syracuse. The event celebrated the accomplishments of local organizations and individuals dedicated to philanthropy in Central New York.

Gracie Thorpe, board president for AFP-CNY, stated, “Oswego County Federal Credit Union has demonstrated remarkable leadership and commitment to philanthropy. Their innovative approach to community involvement and consistent support of local initiatives sets a standard for other organizations to follow.”

NEWSMAKERS

NEWS BRIEFS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUSINESS PEOPLE, PROFESSIONALS

SUNY President Tapped to Lead AASCU Committee on Student Success

SUNY Oswego President Peter O.

Peter O. Nwosu Nwosu has been named chairman of the Committee on Student Success of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The committee, composed of presidents of AASCU-member institutions, assists the organization in shaping its strategic agenda on student success, including student success programming, persistence and completion initiatives, career pathways and workforce development, in alignment with upward mobility and regional economic development.

President Nwosu’s selection was announced at the committee’s fall 2024 meeting, which he chaired, as part of AASCU’s annual conference for presidents and chancellors of regional universities, which took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Nov. 16 to 19.

President Nwosu succeeds Tomás D. Morales, president of California State University, San Bernardino, who served in the role for five years.

“I am both pleased and humbled by this honor, which also reflects and recognizes SUNY Oswego’s commitment to a more educated region through our Vision 4040 and our new strategic plan,” said President Nwosu. “We are happy to share and amplify AASCU’s commitment to preparing students for success throughout their university years and beyond.”

“President Nwosu is an active and highly engaged AASCU member who is deeply committed to student success. This new role as chair of our student success committee will enable him to

expand that commitment on a national level,” said Jacquelyn Jones, assistant vice president of student success at AASCU. “We look forward to working with him to advance our student success initiatives in support of the 3 million students AASCU serves.”

SUNY Chancellor Dr. John B. King Jr. and several SUNY presidents attended the AASCU convening.

Edward Cronk Promoted at Bowers CPAs & Advisors

Bowers CPAs & Advisors an

nounced the promotion of Edward Cronk to partner within the firm’s client accounting and advisory services (CAAS) division.

With over 30 years of experience across multiple industries, such as construction, healthcare and real estate, Cronk has demonstrated a commitment to delivering outstanding financial solutions and fostering growth within the firm’s client accounting and advisory division. A Syracuse native, Cronk has worked in Central New York his entire career, building a deep understanding of the region’s unique business landscape. Known for his performance-driven leadership, he has played an integral role in elevating business practices and maximizing organizational efficiency.

“Ed has consistently proven himself as a leader who not only drives results but also fosters a culture of excellence and collaboration,” said Patricia Mills, client accounting and advisory partner-in-charge. “His strategic insight, combined with his deep knowledge in accounting, finance, and operational optimization, has been invaluable to both our clients and our internal teams. We are excited to see

him take on this new role and continue to lead our efforts in helping clients achieve long-term success.”

MACNY Announces New Staff, Promotion

MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, has recently added five staff members and promoted another member to support the organization’s programmatic growth.

They are:

• Amanda Serow has joined the team as a senior accountant. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and over three years of experience in financial analysis and reporting. She will assist in managing state and federal funding sources, ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements and supporting monthly budget monitoring and variance analysis.

• Jason Poole brings over a decade of experience in business development, sales and team management, most recently serving as a resource developer at Merit Apprenticeship Alliance. As a workforce development specialist, he will focus on the New York Registered Apprenticeship Manufacturing Program (NY-RAMP), working closely with businesses, educators and community partners to provide workforce solutions and training.

• Lauren Devlin brings a wealth of experience as a marketing and communication specialist. Her previous role as an assistant editor and post production coordinator at Spacestation has honed her skills in executing both long-and short-form content while collaborating closely with production teams to meet tight deadlines. Lauren’s previous experience also includes social media management, website development and event support, having worked as a marketing associate at Terra Science and Education.

• Lindsay Fay, with a background in recruitment, customer service and workforce development, brings valuable experience to as a workforce development specialist. In her previ-

Edward Cronk

ous role as a field recruiter at Remedy Intelligent Staffing, she honed her skills in screening, interviewing and placing candidates, with a focus on manufacturing.

• Eileen Donovan has been promoted to manager of apprenticeship and workforce development, where she will take on a leadership role in expanding statewide and federal initiatives, representing programs and participants to employers, and serving as a subject-matter expert on MACNY services for businesses, community partners, and schools.

New Dean at St. Joseph’s College of Nursing Appointed

Andrew Wolf has been appointed

St. Joseph’s College of Nursing’s new dean. Wolf is widely acknowledged for his leadership in nursing education, known for pioneering teaching methods and program development. His proficiency in integrating advanced simulation technologies and competency-based learning has transformed health professions education to meet the demands of modern health care.

Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to faculty development, student success strategies and partnerships with health systems. His efforts have addressed critical workforce needs while ensuring excellence in admissions, curriculum design and program outcomes.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Andrew Wolf as dean of St. Joseph’s College of Nursing,” said Meredith Price, senior vice president of acute operations at St. Joseph’s Health. “His innovative leadership aligns with our mission to serve as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. Dr. Wolf’s vision and expertise will enhance our efforts to prepare skilled nurses for the evolving demands of healthcare. We are excited for the transformative impact his vision and expertise will bring to our students, faculty, and the broader community.”

Wolf brings extensive leadership experience from roles at Marymount University, St. John Fisher University and the University of Rochester.

Among his many achievements, he has spearheaded curriculum innovations, launched online and hybrid learning programs and led accreditation processes with exceptional results. As a board member of the Institute for Innovative Education at the University of Rochester, Wolf advanced interprofessional education to enhance quality and safety in health care through improved communication and teamwork. He also continues to practice as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, applying clinical insights to shape forward-thinking nursing education.

Wolf holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from SUNY Empire State College, a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Johns Hopkins University and both a master’s in nursing and a doctorate in education from the University of Rochester.

MACNY Welcomes New Training Specialist

Caci Day-Fox has recently joined

MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, as training specialist. With a strong background in hospitality management and event coordination, DayFox brings a wealth of expertise to MACNY’s training programs.

She joins MACNY from the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina, where she served as assistant events manager. There, she successfully supervised and directed staff and managed complex event logistics to deliver high-quality events. Prior to her role at Washington Duke Inn, she held several key positions in hospitality, including restaurant manager at JB Duke Hotel; food and beverage supervisor at State View Hotel Autograph Collection; and assistant restaurant manager at Horizons at Woodcliff Hotel and Spa.

Day-Fox earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in

Resort and Recreation Service Management from SUNY Morrisville.

ConnextCare Welcomes NP in Psychiatric Mental Health

ConnextCare recently welcomed Ashley Monroe, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to its growing team of mental health providers.

Monroe joined the team after completing her schooling and clinical training at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

“ConnextCare is excited to be able to add another provider to our mental health team,” said Tricia Peter-Clark, president and CEO of ConnextCare. “There is an increasing need for psychiatric services in our community and we are thrilled that Ashley has joined our team to help meet that demand.”

Monroe will be located in the Oswego office which is currently located at 10 George St. until the opening of the new ConnextCare Oswego office at 120 East 1st St. on March 31.

Binghamton Resident Named to SUNY Upstate Council

Binghamton resident Mark A.

Bordeau has been appointed by the Gov. Hochul to serve on the SUNY Upstate Medical University Council. Bordeau’s term on the council runs through June 30. Bordeau serves as president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, which serves nearly 31,000 people weekly in Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties, covering nearly 4,000 square miles. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier distributes food and grocery items to individuals through a network of food pantries, meal programs, shelters, after-school programs, senior programs and other agencies.

The SUNY Upstate Medical University Council is an advisory board

Andrew Wolf

Caci Day-Fox

Mark A. Bordeau

to Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD. Council members are appointed by the governor and hail primarily from all across Central New York region.

Prior to joining the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Bordeau served as executive director of the Rural Health Network of SCNY, where he championed programs addressing the social determinants of health, including food access and rural healthcare needs. In January, Bordeau will begin services as chairman of Feeding New York state that supports food banks through New York state.

Organizations that have benefitted from Bordeau’s service include with Broome County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Food Bank of the Southern Tier Advocacy Committee, NY School Nutrition Association.

He is a graduate of Empire State College, holds certification as a school nutrition specialist, and a Lead NY Fellowship from Cornell University.

Compass to Award $14K

in Scholarships; Applications Due by April 11

Compass Federal Credit Union is again sponsoring its scholarship program, which will award $14,000 to help support members’ higher education.

A total of seven graduating seniors in 2025 will be selected to earn a variety of scholarship amounts this spring. The Compass scholarship committee will select two applicants to receive $4,000 scholarships, one applicant to receive a $2,000 scholarship and four more to receive $500 scholarships.

Applicants for these scholarships must be 2025 high school graduating seniors and members of Compass FCU.

In addition, Compass recognizes that students already engaged in post-secondary education also benefit from scholarship support. With this in mind, Compass is offering two $1,000 continuing education scholarships to members who have already graduated from high school and are pursuing additional education.

Applicants for the continuing education scholarships have to be a two-year members of Compass FCU.

Applications for all scholarships are available online at www. compassfcu.com under the Services/Other Services tab. Applications must be submitted to Compass by 5 p.m. on April 11.

To learn more about Compass Credit Union’s services, or to see a listing of locations, visit online at www.compassfcu.com.

Compass Credit Union can be found on social media via Facebook at www.facebook.com/CompassFCU and on Twitter @CompassFCU.

Established in 1966, Compass Federal Credit Union has expanded from its original 74 members, to servicing more than 8,000 members in the Oswego County community. Compass Federal Credit Union aims to serve its members with responsive and exceptional personal service, security of member’s funds, competitive programs and continued growth.

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John FitzGibbons has been in the insurance business for 45 years. He joined his father, Jack FitzGibbons, right after college, left, then returned to the business. “A business like ours only succeeds to the level of the success of the community. The investment and success of the community is a longterm investment in the success of our business,” he said.

FitzGibbons Agency Now Under New Ownership

Long-time owner John FitzGibbons recalls trajectory of the Oswegobased agency (founded by his grandfather in 1922) and explains why Marshall + Sterling was the right company to acquire his business

By Stefan Yablonski

For more than 100 years, FitzGibbons Agency LLC has been providing quality insurance services to the Oswego and Onondaga communities.

“We’re proud to be a third-generation independent insurance agency,” said John FitzGibbons, 67.

Founded in 1922 by George FitzGibbons, the agency remains dedicated to the people and places it serves, he added.

Today the agency at 44 E Bridge St., Oswego, offers a range of personal and commercial insurance options, including home, auto, renters, business owners, liability, worker’s compensa-

tion and more. The office was located previously in the Press Box Building on East First Street.

The office reflects the agency’s history.

The walls are adorned with memorabilia of the growth of the company, the paperwork for FitzGibbons’s first job — selling popcorn at 14. He sold popcorn for 50 cents from a wagon, like the one people see at state and county fairs.

“I started by operating nightly at East Fourth and Bridge streets,” he said. “I did ultimately do fairs — including the New York State Fair.”

Every poster for Harborfest is also on display.

“I was once the president of the board of Harborfest,” he explained. “We have every poster from year one.”

In the beginning

His great-grandfather was in the boiler business. The agency sports a reconfigured boiler in its front wall — it was the night deposit box when the building was Oswego County Savings Bank.

“His son did not go into the boiler business. He went into the insurance

business,” John said. “George Fitzgibbons started this in 1922.”

These days FitzGibbons can track stuff on a computer. His grandfather used a book.

“This is what I have left from his world,” he said displaying a huge book.

“This is what’s called a Sanborn map and insurance people used these. This one was first published in 1924. All the city’s buildings appear; so if you were going to write insurance on something you’d use this — and what would happen is if you see a building changed, there is a subscription and the guy would come in and he would man ually update your book with overlays.

You’d subscribe to it and the change when it took place they’d come in an update it for you. You can feel where the updates are — they are tissue paper overlays. The last time this was updated was in the ’60s, I think. You weren’t putting it in your pocket,” he said of the massive tome.

His grandfather started in the real estate and insurance business in ’22. His father joined post-World War II. He went right from high school to World War II and then right to college. He joined his father in the business in ’52.

“Then I joined with my father for a couple years after I graduated from St John Fisher University. I left and worked in another agency,” FitzGibbons said. “I ultimately came back to Oswego in the insurance business in 1990.”

“I started my own enterprise in 2003. I embraced the real estate history my family had and became a broker,” he added. “My father ended his career at the port authority; he returned and did some real estate and I helped him with that and I continued after he stopped being active. It was a nod to my family history and I have a full-time broker that works with me. Really the bulk of my career is insurance. But the nod to which my history has been also.”

Pathfinder Bank partner

“Actually in 2012, [FitzGibbons Agency] became a partner with Pathfinder Bank. I elected to purchase half of the agency and we became business partners,” he explained. “We operated that way until October of 2024. It was determined that the next best step for the community, customers and employees was to integrate into a larger operation and that larger operation is Marshall + Sterling.”

Pathfinder Bank announced it sold the assets of FitzGibbons Agency to

Marshall & Sterling Enterprises, Inc., an insurance broker headquartered in Poughkeepsie.

All nine FitzGibbons Agency employees, including FitzGibbons and his wife, Tara, joined Marshall+Sterling.

Founded in 1864, Marshall+Sterling is one of the 50 largest independent insurance brokerages in the U.S.

In addition to property and casualty insurance, Marshall+Sterling is a leader in employee benefits, risk management and wealth advisory services.

In 2023, the company ranked as the second-largest property and casualty and health insurance brokerage in the Capital Region, according to the Albany Business Review.

“And they write $1.6 billion in premiums. They very much have taken our success and had the ability to add to the success that we’ve achieved,” FitzGibbons said. “We are pretty broad in the services that we offer. They are even broader. So things like employee benefits and services to larger employers it helps us with those aspects of business. They have been spectacular at leveraging more resources to our community.”

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“The acquisition of agencies like mine is not uncommon. That ‘knock’ was happening pretty regularly. People knock all the time. But it was only the right knock that made a difference and Marshal + Sterling was the right knock. It was the right knock, it fits the outcome for what we hope to achieve,” he explained.

45 Years in Business

FitzGibbons has been doing this for 45 years.

“I do a bunch of things; I have grandkids and I’ll do frivolous things like I’ll fly kites and ride bikes,” he said. “I’ve still got a fairly young heart, so we do recreate. We enjoy the community. I have a very strong stamp of civic engagement that comes by way of my father and mother — they were both civically deeply committed to the community. My wife is on the college council; my father was in real estate and insurance and also was mayor and port of Oswego director; my mother was social service director at St Lukes.”

In his career FitzGibbons has been president of the board of Harborfest, president of the Rotary club, president of the YMCA. “So we have committed a lot of time and effort, served on boards at the hospital — there are many things I have done in my career civically and

we continue to do that. As a small business we contribute to the community,” he said.

Time to slow down?

“A business like ours only succeeds to the level of the success of the community. The investment and success of the community is long-term investment in the success of our business,” he said. “We really do all we can to advance the cause for a better community without question.

“I think what happens is it becomes a different place which you contribute to an organization. There are more people pulling on the oars, so that you can contribute in a way differently than as someone that has to do everything,” he said. “At this point I have worked in an environment where we accomplished a lot of great things. But many of them were accomplished by people who were doing multiple functions.

“I don’t necessarily have a DNA in me that says, as my father would say, ‘put my feet up and sit in the Morris chair’ [a Morris chair is an early type of reclining chair.] I guess that was the precursor to the Lazy Boy. I think that was in the ’40s. What I would say is I enjoy my work. The people I work with are very much my family. We currently have nine people and we have an office in Baldwinsville.”

Marshall + Sterling is adding staff to Oswego and Central New York. Their history began 160 years ago in Poughkeepsie where they provided insurance to the Vanderbilt family; they were of that industrial age wealth that occurred in the Hudson Valley, he said.

“As they have grown, they grew up to Albany and they started to look across the state and said, ‘OK we’d like to be more prominent in other aspects of Upstate New York. We’d like to be in Central New York.’ They looked at what we did and said this could be a good platform for them to build a Central New York presence. We are the first step of their growth plan for Central New York,” he said.

“I have two children. One is a nurse practitioner and the other is a software engineer. Neither one of them is in insurance,” he said. “They just have different interests. They aren’t compelled to do what I did. Both of them in their own ways have achieved great success — that’s what you want for your children, happiness and success.”



All in the family: The late Tom Galloway, seated, started his real estate business in 1965 as a one-man operation. His son Bill, left, bought the business in 1994 and still runs it along with his wife Elaine.

Century 21 Galloway Realty Marks Milestone

Local real estate agency in business for 60 years

There’s a saying in real estate — location, location, location.

But for William Galloway, owner of Century 21 Galloway Realty, people, people, people would be more appropriate.

The agency is celebrating 60 years as a family-owned business.

“We made this the No. 1 office in New York state,” Galloway said. “We grew and grew and grew. We have great agents. Connie Ryan, she just got Realtor of the Year recently. They work so hard. They are like family. We kind of grew together. They are the reason we’re doing so well — why we’ve been

around for 60 years.

“From my top agents to my bottom agents, they are all producing very good.”

In 1965, his father, Tom Galloway, worked in insurance and then he went with Bob Shay and Bob died. “Then my father opened his own business —

Ryan, Bill and Elaine’s son, joined in in 2011.

out of his house,” Galloway said. “He began independently selling real estate and insurance with his wife, Bridget.”

Eventually, he opened his own agency known as Galloway Real Estate. The one-man office was located on East Seventh Street in Oswego.

As the business grew, he moved into a couple different locations. He was city assessor at the same time, too. He bought into the Realty World franchise and expanded his office to 12 agents.

“As he was doing that, I got into the business in 1980. Right out of high school at 18 — as soon as I could get my license I got it,” he said. “I was selling, but I was also working at Nine Mile for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (now Exelon) for 10 years. I was doing both.”

His father purchased a Century 21 Real Estate franchise from retiring broker Harold Wallace.

“So we bought it and I got out of Nine Mile and ran the business,” Bill Galloway said. “My father also served as president of the Oswego County Board of Realtors.”

His father did a lot of developments, he added.

“My father did the last two sub-divisions in the city. He did Kingsford Woods on top of Munn Street and down Elizabeth and the Woodridge Terrace on the east side over by 481. He developed a lot,” he said.

In 1994, Galloway and his wife, Elaine, purchased Century 21 Galloway Realty from his father.

In 2001, Galloway retired from Niagara Mohawk after 19 years to join Century 21 Galloway Realty as the fulltime business manager.

“We’ve got 25 agents. We sell things as fast as they go up. We had an amazing year. We’re busy. The whole country has got the same problem, there’s nothing for sale,” he said. “Now my son, Ryan, is in the business. My other son is in Rochester; he works for the University of Rochester.”

Galloway said he’d be pleased to see the family business continue.

“Being in business for 60 years is a huge accomplishment,” he added. “That is something we are very proud of and I hope we continue to keep doing what we’re doing for many years to come.”

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Former Congregational Church of Pulaski on 27 Church St. is one of 56 properties that were used for religious purposes that are for sale in New York state. Asking price: $99,000.

Photos courtesy of Stephen Schmitt, real estate agent with HUNT Commercial Real Estate.

Buy a Church in Pulaski. Asking Price: $99,000

In New York state, 56 properties that were used for religious purposes are listed for sale on the Cityfeet.com website — including buildings in Pulaski and Oneida

By Aaron Gifford

In Pulaski, a historic structure built in 1867 is available for purchase at $99,000.

It has high ceilings, a study and large gathering rooms.

The property includes a half-acre of land within walking distance of the village center.

In Oneida, Madison County, a three-acre property zoned for agricultural use includes a 9,084-square-foot building equipped with a spacious kitchen, offices, classrooms and an auditorium that doubles as a basketball court. It’s priced at $550,000.

These properties are not large luxury homes or former community centers.

They are churches that closed due to shrinking congregations and building maintenance expenses that exceeded operating costs for the organization’s mission.

Similar properties, regardless of religious denomination, are for sale across New York, including a monastery in Westchester County, a Catholic cathedral in Albany, a Jehovah’s Witnesses kingdom hall in Queens, a Jewish synagogue in Massapequa, Long Island and a number of old wooden country chapels across rural regions of Western New York, the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks.

These types of real estate listings are expected to increase across the Empire State and the nation as fewer Americans go to church. Attendance had already been decreasing steadily for more than a half-century before the pandemic accelerated the decline into freefall.

Lifeway Research reported that while 3,000 new Protestant churches opened in 2019, 4,500 churches closed.

In a 2022 study, the University of Chicago reported that 67% of respondents noted attending church at least once in a 12-month period, compared to 75% in 2019.

A Gallup Research Poll found that after the pandemic, for the first time in the nation’s history, less than half of the U.S. population were members of a church and the median congregation size decreased from 137 in 2000 to 65 in 2021.

The National Council of Churches forecasts that about 100,000 of the nation’s approximate 400,000 places of worship will close within the next five years. In New York state, 56 properties that were used for religious purposes are listed for sale on the Cityfeet.com website.

The cheapest is the Pulaski Church, located at 27 Church St., while the most expensive is the Church of Nazarene Mirror Lake Retreat Center in the town of Milan, priced at $11 million. The 216-acre property in the Hudson Valley wilderness includes cabins, indoor volleyball courts, pavilions, soccer fields, a recreation room and a luxury home.

New York State Council of Churches Chaplain Certification Coordinator Jim Ketcham outlined why church membership is at a record low right now and a handful of things congregations can do to survive in this new era of faith.

With an aging population across Central New York and most other Upstate New York communities, the core group of the most dedicated members and volunteers for social and fundraising events is approaching 80 or older, he said.

“They are just not able to do what they used to do before,” he said.

Secondly, Ketcham added, most churches were built in the 1800s or early 1900s when congregations were at least three times larger. Generations later, the cost of repairing and maintaining those structures greatly exceeds program costs and overshadows the church’s original purpose.

“It’s an across-the-board concern,” he said. “It’s become such a burden on the church budget.”

It isn’t easy to get more families to attend Sunday morning services at a time when there are so many competing priorities, including youth sports, not to mention screen time forms of entertainment that younger people grow up with. Livestreamed sermons and Bible studies ushered in during the COVID-19 pandemic provide popular mediums and provide a glimmer of hope that faith-based institutions can remain viable if they continue to find creative ways to serve people of all ages,

Ketcham said.

“It’s a difficult cause. There’s no longer the expectation that families will go to church together. That died in 1965,” he said, adding that the construction of new churches slowed down significantly after the 1920s. “Change the music; grow your youth groups — nobody is buying that. We have to ask ourselves: Why aren’t we where the people are? We have to get out of the buildings and go where the needs are.”

With fewer folks going to church services, Ketcham said, congregations should focus more on outreach efforts, like staffing local food pantries or baby banks (formula, clothing, toys and diapers).

“But if you are doing these things to increase membership, stop now,” he said. “The point is to find a need and meet it.”

State and federal preservation grants are available to help with church renovation costs, but the process is highly competitive and not an attractive option to many congregations because those programs have strict requirements for maintaining historical integrity where upkeep and maintenance tasks are cost prohibitive, Ketcham said.

“The issues are so complex and the chances of success are so small,” he said.

Working together

Some churches across the state have been converted into apartments, trendy restaurants or microbreweries.

A few examples also show congregations partnering with other agencies to sell or lease the building while maintaining a space for continued church programs. This arrangement could work where there’s a strong demand for office space, Ketcham said.

Religious organizations across the nation, meanwhile, are increasingly merging or consolidating operations to maintain services and worship opportunities without incurring further debt over building maintenance costs. Ketcham noted an example in rural Minnesota where five churches, all of them different protestant denominations, combined services into one building and eventually offered joint Sunday sermons.

“Congregations have a history of working together, especially with food pantries and shelters,” he said. “People can be very creative when they are forced to work together.”

In Indianapolis, the Episcopal bishop was awarded a $1 million grant to research 82 churches across Indiana

The 9,084-sq.-ft. building features 72 car-parking lot and a storage barn with an overhead door. Inside is a lobby leading to an auditorium that also houses a small, carpeted basketball court. Asking price: $550,000.

that have closed or are at risk of closing within a few years. The goal is to determine how those properties or at least their real estate values, could better serve the community. Religious organization leaders across the country will be watching closely.

Shelby Winchell, communications director of the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church, based in Liverpool, said the UMC is implementing several creative measures to keep churches open and revitalize congregations. These include outreach measures in cafes, theaters and other public spaces to engage folks who would not attend traditional church services.

There is also room for growth in diverse ethnic communities “to meet the spiritual needs of the changing demographics of our region,” Winchell said, adding that UMC maintains a safe sanctuaries policy for protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

“This commitment to safety helps build trust within the community and encourages participation in church activities,” she said.

Local and state governments need to realize the vital role churches play in communities and in supplementing public social services. Winchell ex-

plained that churches provide meeting spaces for groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, host Red Cross blood drives and serve as voting locations.

“Churches offer much more than just a place to worship,” she said. “They serve as staples in the community, a safe place to gather and vital anchors for social and spiritual support.”

Winchell said church and congregation leaders need to be trained in grant writing so they can secure public funds for structural repairs, energy efficiency upgrades and other capital projects. Improvements in technology are equally important for places of faith to broaden their reach. Free Wi-Fi services would be a tremendous benefit to churches and the communities they serve.

“Like many Americans, some congregational leaders don’t have the expertise when it comes to implementing this new technology and feel lost or uncertain,” Winchell said. “Many churches don’t even have the ability to connect to the internet due to their remoteness, resulting in dwindling attendance and outreach.”

Six churches sold

Don Minichino, director of commercial property sales for Keller Wil-

liams Realty Partners in the Hudson Valley, said he has sold six churches in the past four years. He’s currently listing one in Hyde Park for $1.2 million. Religious properties in the New York City area or trendier areas in small cities across the state are often snapped up quickly by developers looking to convert the buildings into apartments or restaurants. With smaller, less-expensive properties in less urban settings, he said, there have been cases where families converted the buildings into homes.

“It’s an open living concept,” he said.

Denominal organizations with multiple churches, facing declining membership, will often sell their most expensive properties and consolidate to smaller or less elaborate locations, using the sale revenues to maintain operating costs, Minichino added. In recent years, several religious properties were purchased by other congregations representing different denominations.

“I’ve seen Christian congregations buy temples. I’ve seen Buddhists buy old Catholic churches,” he said. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter what the building looks like. It’s more about if it [building] can fit a lot of people.”

Interior of former Congregational Church of Pulaski. The church’s asking price is the lowest among 56 churches that are on sale in New York state.

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Part of the warehouse at the Rescue Mission Distribution Center. The boxes piled up in the foreground are sorted by commodity and be ultimately be sold as salvage. The racks in the middle are where all the sellable clothes are hand-sorted and hung. They will ultimately be sent to the Thrifty Shopper stores or the 3fifteen stores.

Big

Thrifting is Big Business In CNY

Thrifty stores running by the Rescue Mission generate $19 million in sales; revenues help fund programs and services to the needy

By Mary Beth Roach

Thrifting at the Syracuse Rescue Mission Alliance’s stores means big savings for price-conscious shoppers.

And it means a big boost in the local nonprofit organization’s revenue line and its ability to continue providing programs and services.

The Rescue Mission’s 17 Thrifty Shoppers and two 3fifteen stores are just one part of the Rescue Mission’s Social Enterprise Division, which altogether makes up 68% of the revenue side Rescue Mission’s budget. The other components of the division include a 60,000-square-foot donation redistribution center in Liverpool and its partnerships with various salvage operators.

“You can thrift to make others thrive,” according to Luana Lovenguth, who, as chief social enterprise officer for the organization, oversees the organization’s thrift stores, its massive distribution center, and the salvage operation.

The stores, themselves, she said, generated more than $19 million in 2023. The two 3fifteen stores, which offer more brand-name items in smaller, more boutique-like settings than its Thrifty Shopper counterparts, are located at the Elm Hill Plaza on Milton Avenue in Camillus and Marshall Square Mall,

near Syracuse University.

The 17 Thrifty Shopper stores are located as far north as Watertown, as far east as New Hartford; south to Binghamton; and west to Seneca Falls. In this area, there is one in Oswego; one in Westvale Plaza; and one in the Valley section of Syracuse.

“We try to make the most out of every donation that we get,” she said and the Rescue Mission’s resale and salvage operations bear that out.

To get the most, though, is an extensive process that she outlined. When items are brought into the donation sites, they’re delivered to the distribution center, where they are sorted. If it’s in sellable condition, it goes to the stores. Between 70,000 and 75,000 articles of clothing are sent out to the 19 stores for resale weekly, she noted.

The unsellable items are sold to various salvage businesses.

For example, if a toy is broken or missing a part, people can still donate it, since the Rescue Mission works with an organization that will buy the wood, plastic and metal toys for 18 cents a pound.

Same with clothing or textiles. If a piece is ripped, stained, torn or pilling, a lot of people will throw it away. The average American throws away 80 pounds of clothing every single year,

Baler at the Rescue Mission Distribution Center in Liverpool. The baler bundles up those clothing items that are not sellable into 1,200-pound bundles, which are then sold to salvage operators.

Lovenguth said. The Rescue Mission will accept these donations as long they don’t have gas or motor oil on them or aren’t wet. The items are baled and sold, many of which then get shredded into industrial rags.

The salvage operation — cardboard, metal, books, toys, textiles, shoes, purses and belts, for example — provides the organization with about $1.5 million every year, she estimated.

In a sense, the social enterprise division is economically and environmentally friendly. It helps families get more for their money in their stores; it keeps about 10 million pounds of items out of the trash and landfills in the nine counties that they operate annually, according to Lovenguth. And it allows the Rescue Mission to provide services and programs to thousands of individuals annually, while being less dependent on government funding and donations.

According to the organization’s 2023 fiscal report, aside from the 68% of its revenue coming from the social enterprise operations, 14% of its revenue come from government grants and 12% from a combination of general contributions, legacies and bequests.

Government funding and contributions can vary from year to year, so the shops and salvage operations provide a steadier stream of revenue and allows the organization to sustain its business model, Lovenguth said.

The Rescue Mission operates programs in Syracuse, Auburn and Binghamton. Among its services are emergency shelter, meals, supportive permanent housing, employment resources, spiritual care and helping to access support services.

In addition, this past Thanksgiving, Lovenguth said the organization delivered 2,800 Thanksgiving meals — and its Rescue Mission Housing Association is becoming more involved in providing affordable housing.

Toward that end, it has purchased property on Polk Street in Syracuse with 40 efficiency apartments that will eventually become part of its program, Lovenguth said.

In a 2022 interview with In Good Health newspaper, Rescue Mission director Dan Sieburg said that he believes their clients need such housing for “sustainability and to really achieve their higher level of independence” and that the Rescue Mission needs “to be the ones to start to create that kind of housing.”

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Transition at Oswego Port Authority

Former bank president assumes the leadership at the Oswego port

By Stefan Yablonski

Thomas W. Schneider’s career has docked at the Port of Oswego Authority.

The former president of Pathfinder Bank has been appointed to serve as interim executive director following the Dec. 31, 2024, retirement of William Scriber, former executive director of the Port of Oswego Authority.

Schneider will serve in this capacity under a short-term contract while the board continues its formal search process in accordance with its fiduciary responsibilities, according to Francis Enwright, port’s board chairman.

“I was born on June 2, 1961 in Brooklyn and raised in New York City

— grew up on Staten Island,” he said. His father, Joseph, worked at Citibank in Manhattan — then left to start his own lease finance company.

Schneider earned a master’s degree in business administration from Fairfield University in 2002. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from SUNY Cortland in 1983. After graduating college, he went to work for Merrill Lynch.

“I came Upstate to go to college at SUNY Cortland and got married in 1985. My now ex-wife told me that she loved living in New York City — I was working for Merrill lynch at the time. But by 1988 we had our first child and

she wanted to come back Upstate to Rome, New York,” he said.

He applied for and got a job at Oswego City Savings Bank.

“So I have been in this community for a long, long time. And really, to tell the truth — for someone who came from outside of the community, I have always been well-received and accepted,” he said. “This community has been great to me and I am really grateful for that.

“This is where I raised my kids. This is where I live — it is where I am staying. I love the development that I have seen in the city, county and the region over the last 10 years or so.”

Schneider has three adult sons.

Tom Schneider, right, has been appointed to serve as interim executive director at the Port of Oswego Authority in Oswego. He is next to former executive director, William Scriber, who retired at the end of 2024.

“All three are on the computer and technology side; we broke the chain there,” he laughed.

He said he “lost three brothers in very quick succession.”

“They were between 65 and 68 coming right off the pandemic years; two of them to cancer and the other to a brain aneurism,” he added. “I am the youngest of five boys.”

Prior to his appointment as president of Pathfinder Bank in 2000, he served as an executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“I was president and CEO at Pathfinder for 21 years. But I was actually at Pathfinder since 1988 — so it’s like 33, 34 years,” he said. “We changed our name [from Oswego City Savings] to Pathfinder in 1999. And Chris Gagas retired at the beginning of 2000 and the board appointed me as the CEO then.”

Under his leadership, the bank’s total assets grew from $216 million in 1999 to nearly $1.3 billion on Dec. 31, 2021.

Schneider has also served as an adjunct professor at SUNY Oswego, teaching a graduate-level finance course.

He served on the board of the port for 14 years in two different terms.

people here. It really is a unique type of business,” he said. “It’s different than anything that I’ve ever done before. Yet I have some familiarity because of all the work I’ve done in the governance role on the board.”

Schneider has high praise for the port’s workers.

“It’s cold here at the end of the dock, cold and windy. I am working with people — a lot that I already knew. Hard work, it is hard work around the port in these [winter] conditions. We have some great people here,” he said. “It’s really quite something to see. You realize what hard work is.”

This is a new way in which he can stay involved and do what he has come to love — “and that is having a positive impact on the economic development in Oswego County and Central New York,” he said.

Schneider said he enjoys spending time with family and friends, and he

“

“Bill Scriber retired at the end of 2024 and we have a search committee looking for a permanent director,” he said. “I was the logical choice to take over in the interim. Whether or not it becomes permanent we’ll see. For now I am in the interim position. We’ll see what the board wants to do. The board has to conduct a search as part of its fiduciary duty.

Not ready for retirement

“I certainly enjoy this challenge — opportunity — and I enjoy the people here and the impact we can have on the economy in Central New York,” he said. “I never want to consider myself for retirement. I would rather keep busy. If things didn’t work out here, I will re-emerge somewhere else.”

Looking back

‘Whether or not [my appointment] becomes permanent we’ll see. For now I am in the interim position. We’ll see what the board wants to do. The board has to conduct a search as part of its fiduciary duty.

“enjoys watching New York sports with his sons.

“Since I am a prior board member, we want to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. There will be a search conducted in due time in 2025 and we will see where that goes.”

“Tom was a long-term POA board member. He additionally has been part of and is knowledgeable of the many past and upcoming projects that are necessary for successful operations and growth of the port,” said long-time Port of Oswego Authority board member Connie Cosemento. “His past work as bank president is an asset to help understand and make good financial decisions.”

A unique business

“I really enjoy working with the

“I don’t think I ever really separated work and personal life. You meet so many people in business that it becomes part of your friendship chain in your private life. So it is hard to distinguish between the two. When you are in a leadership position you take it home with you. But you also shut down when you need to. I’d stress more when I wasn’t doing my job than when I was doing my job,” he laughed. “I don’t really have a big separation between my work life and personal life; they always just kind of blended together.”

“The winters allow you to focus more on the work side of things,” he said. “I try to stay in shape. I used to exercise more. I [play] golf and ski in the winter. Golf would be my primary sport. I ‘play’ golf and I ‘ski’ — but I am not a golfer and I am not a skier,” he quipped.

“Memories? Professionally? I think being able to be on West First Street, have an office that looked out onto West First Street and see a large swath of the city downtown area and being able to see all the development there. Being asked to be an adjunct professor at the college and working with organizations like the Oswego Renaissance Association — and being able to help them, being on the board of the Shineman Foundation — these are things that I always felt tied a lot of the things together for me,” he said. “Watching Oswego, Central New York collaboration between all the sectors — private, economic, nonprofit, academic — all of them — I think that alignment is crucial to productivity and you certainly don’t see that on our national basis so much. I am very optimistic and I see opportunities for the port in supporting the growth and development that is going on to the south of us. This is a community that welcomes being an energy producer as opposed to not wanting it in their backyard.”

“I love watching the transformation that is going on in the city. It’s great to see this all happening and to be able to participate in to some degree,” he continued. “I love this area and mostly it is the change in seasons, it is the people here in Oswego, in Upstate New York. It’s different from the West Coast or the East Coast, it’s more like Midwesterners.

“The ability to make change and have an impact; I am grateful that I have been in a position where I could be a part of that — have an impact. Yeah, I like to feel like at the end of the day I had a positive impact,” he said. “I never expected myself to live in Oswego, New York. But I’d like to think that I made a positive impact on the community.”

‘I recall the 1990s as a boom time where music was a main attraction in many bars. Oswego’s Water Street was in its heyday — you could catch a hot rock band in Ferris Wheel and almost any genre across the street in Old City Hall. Even the modest-sized Gaslight Pub, down a flight of stairs, might have a small act.’

The Times They Are A-changing for the Live Music Scene

Difficult economy and changing habits are making it challenging for performers and venues to find success on a regular basis

It’s a Thursday evening in one of the most well-respected music venues in Oswego County, a traditionally busy night even in winter. One of the best and most-beloved performers in the county is playing a typically great set.

Tim’s Notes

to find an opportunity.

TIM NEKRITZ is director of news and media for SUNY Oswego, where he spearheads telling the stories of the campus community.

It’s around 8 p.m. and I look around and I’m one of only four customers. It’s not the fault of anybody here — performer or venue — and this type of experience is no longer atypical.

The times, as Bob Dylan famously said, they are a-changing, for local music venues.

I recall the 1990s as a boom time where music was a main attraction in many bars. Oswego’s Water Street was in its heyday — you could catch a hot rock band in Ferris Wheel and almost any genre across the street in Old City Hall. Even the modest-sized Gaslight Pub, down a flight of stairs, might have a small act. The bar once known as Players, later Toucans, later Hurricanes, next to the Ferris Wheel, might have somebody upstairs. By 2002, you could add King Arthur’s Steakhouse around the corner — now the Children’s Museum of Oswego — to that small square of geography.

You could find good music clubs across neighborhoods (not that the neighbors were always thrilled), such as the departed Shacki Patch at the corner of Liberty and West Schuyler, a top draw especially in summers. It felt like you couldn’t walk a few blocks without hearing live music pouring out of a door on a warm day in the Port City. And you often could say the same thing of Fulton or other towns and villages around Oswego County.

Yet there are just as many, maybe more, musicians looking for audiences or even to make a few bucks as in any time in the area’s history. But it’s getting harder and harder

One musician I know said four or five places they normally play stopped booking live entertainment altogether in the past few months. Another said they keep losing venues and opportunities as fewer places are willing to invest.

Some great live venues have gone out of business — La Parrilla in December, for example — some stopped regular bookings and others have scaled way back, especially during colder months.

(Out of respect for musicians who are friends and venues who are partners, I’m keeping it general here, but rest assured, many are impacted.)

The challenge in a difficult economy is always the bottom line.

When you pay an act $300 for a threehour set, you might ask whether you’re getting $100 per hour in return. If you serve food, it’s a somewhat better bet, but you’re also paying for more staff and perishable inventory. If you’re just serving drinks, you need a good-sized new audience or people getting your most expensive items, to even recoup the investment.

Some places don’t worry about meeting dollar-for-dollar because they consider live music an investment in atmosphere, cultivating a vibrant scene and long-term return. Which is laudable, downright wonderful. But not every place can afford what some might consider a luxury.

As a person who plays in and books two bands and enjoys a lot of live music, it’s something I see firsthand. As do a lot of other musicians. We are grateful for the opportunities and put our all into entertaining audiences.

But when you do play, you might see less engaged audiences. As one friend who has performed for decades says, the

smartphone presents a huge challenge to getting attention among customers. I’ve seen performers much better than me end a great song in front of a decent-sized crowd to not a single bit of applause as people are too busy scrolling or talking to friends about what they’re seeing while scrolling.

Beyond that, technology presents many options other than catching live entertainment as well. When you have several streaming services at your fingertips with most songs and almost every movie ever made, boatloads of YouTube channels, armies of TikTok creators and much more, any musician playing in a bar — and the people booking live shows — have a lot of competition.

Yet the scene survives

But I’m not forecasting the death of live local entertainment either. The scene is alive, thriving in some places, but changing.

Oswego County (and places nearby) has a lot of open mics with regular performers, so a large number of people are playing (albeit not for pay) and audiences are paying attention. The audiences sometimes are mainly other performers, but this at least gets people in the door and helps build a sense of community.

but the economy has sometimes made it challenging for performers and venues to find success on a regular basis.

You can still find a variety of options.

The reopening of the renovated Old City Hall, long a beloved music venue, bears watching; the Ferris Wheel is starting to step up their booking game as well. Lakeview Lanes in Fulton powers through winter with an outdoor heated venue, The Yard. While it’s rare to see a cover charge these days, Oswego’s Ancient Order of Hibernians recently sold out a ticketed show with local rockers Cold Front.

New –newer –evolving establishments from the Touchdown Sports Bar and Grill in Fulton to the Martin Inn and Pub in Sandy Creek to the venerable Kallet Theatre in Pulaski all seem committed to making live music a part of their presentation. And plenty of other places never stopped booking, promoting and supporting live music, for which we are thankful.

A continuing challenge for the many newer acts on the scene is breaking into a rotation. I can see the sides of the equation: On the one hand, venues stick with a known commodity. On the other, not everybody will see the same act for the 11th or 101st time — and at some point they took a chance to see them the first time.

One of my musical mentors asks about how often my bands — The Condescenders (a four-piece) or Whiskey Spirits (a duo) — are playing. On a good

run, we’re playing multiple nights a week, but even then we sometimes worry if we’re competing against ourselves as we build a fanbase in what is still a crowded market for live entertainment.

But where the rubber ultimately meets the road is in people choosing to support live music … or not.

I know folks who pay well over a thousand dollars to fly to Europe to see Taylor Swift (because it’s somehow cheaper than the prices to see her in the U.S.) who won’t walk a few blocks to see a musician play their heart out in a free show.

Without audiences, our music venues don’t exist. My advice to readers is to check out local performers — and they may well be your friends and neighbors — wherever they are. It might be mainly bars and restaurants in winter, but in summer they could be in a park, at a block party, anywhere and everywhere.

It’s not an easy time for musicians or the venues that book them. That I know. But I also know that I happily rang in New Year’s Eve playing a gig with The Condescenders in Mexico’s Eis House bar that was packed with people having a good time. Music is magic. Music is connections. Music is fulfilling.

The times change, but music will always be part of the local scene.

Here’s to anybody and everybody who can support keeping it that way in finding ways to keep the music playing.

A busy and rocking bar — like when author Tim Nekritz and his band The Condescenders played a packed Halloween-themed show at The Eis House in Mexico — is a welcome sight for musicians and music fans,

Rose Anthony stands behind the bar at her Rosie’s Tavern in Granby Center. She turned 99 in February but works every day of the week.

At the Age 99 Rosie’s Still Putting in Full Days at Work

Rose Anthony, the owner of Rosie’s Tavern in Granby Center, does it all: Plow the driveway, do the cleaning, the ordering. At 99 years of age, she works every day of the week.

By Stefan Yablonski

Presided over by preeminent barkeep, Rose Anthony, Rosie’s Tavern is a classic — a landmark and a fixture in Granby Center.

“I was working at GE and GE was going to move. I had just gone through a divorce five years before that,” she said. “So I said if they are going to move, I am going to open up a little business — like a card shop or something.”

Someone told her she should open up a tavern.

“I said no. I don’t drink and I’m not interested,” she said. “But another lady said she was going to go into business; so why don’t we go look at it [the tavern] and we will see what it is and maybe we’ll go into a partnership.

“We came to look at it and this was empty — dirty, terrible. And I said no. The landlord who owned it said he would clean it up and all that. And I still said no.”

The lady said they’d be partners and her mother and father would move in with them and Rosie would be a silent partner.

“I said that would be good — a silent partner,” Rosie said.

So GE shut down for three weeks and they worked on a partnership.

“Her mother and father lived in Lakeport. We decided to go in partnership,” she said. “I was supposed to be just a silent partner. Her mother and father moved in upstairs and business was good — it was a good business.”

But after a while though, the mother and father didn’t want to stay.

“So I quit GE and came here and was her partner. I was her partner for eight years,” she added. “I didn’t want to be partners no more. I couldn’t ever take a vacation.”

Rosie asked her to buy her out or she’d buy Rosie out.

“She wouldn’t buy me out, so I bought her out,” she said. “In 1975, I bought her out.”

They rented the place originally.

“We didn’t buy it. We rented it from Tommy Vescio — a big builder,

Rose Anthony is the oldest owner-operated establishment in Oswego County and possibly the state.

construction worker,” she said. “I meant to open a card shop or something like that — something small. But I ended up with this. Three years after buying her out, I bought the place.”

But 1975 was a bad year for Rosie.

“I bought her out and my nephew come to see me. He had a problem. His wife was from Taiwan; he married her there and brought her here and they had a 9-month-old baby,” she said. “She went back to Taiwan and left him with a 9-month-old baby and he asked me to help him with the baby. Now I just bought this business from my partner

and now I have a 9-month-old baby to raise. I still got her. He never raised her. She is going to be 50 in March. I raised her here. She went to Hannibal schools and then she went to college and now she lives in Florida. She is married and has a child of her own.”

COVID-19 impact

It was a good business, “a real good business before COVID,” she added.

“Before COVID, this bar used to be packed during the day with retired men. It was their social gathering place. Old retired men, this use to be their hangout. They are all gone now, they’re all gone,” she said. “My day shift is quiet now, everybody is quiet. Most bars are opening at 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon now. I open up at 11 every day except Sunday, Sunday I’m closed. I’m carrying the whole load myself. I do all the ordering. I do all the cleaning. I do it all,” she said. She turned 99 in February. She has an employee, Jean, who has been with her for more than 20 years, she added.

“I plow my own driveway, mow my own yard. I plowed this morning — you better put that in my article! ninety-nine and still plowing my own driveway, get the horse shoe pits ready for the horse shoe players. You better put this all in my article, too. I put up guards so snowmobiles don’t run over the stakes. That wouldn’t be good. I keep them covered so the snowmobilers don’t hit them; that would really damage

their snowmobile,” she said. “I want the people to know I do this. This is what keeps me young — always doing something, always working. My whole family was long lived. My brother just died last year [2023] at 99. My mother and father died at 85 and 86. I had a sister that died at 92.”

A lot of businesses in the Fulton area are gone and nobody’s replaced them, she lamented.

“The city of Fulton has gotten smaller as far as retirees, you know. I’m still here. I was born in 1926 in Solvay — grew up in Solvay — went to Solvay school,” she said. “My parents made me work when I was young. My parents came from Italy. My father had a farm.

I was maybe 13 years old and he had a flatbed truck; him and my uncle would pitch hay up on it. I couldn’t reach the gas pedal … but that’s how I learned how to drive. I learned to drive on a standard.

“I worked hard. I’m glad that they brought me up like that. My father bought a farm in Camillus, that’s where I was born, but I grew up in Solvay. A while after I was born my mother didn’t want to live on a farm anymore. So my father moved us to Solvay.”

Retirement isn’t an option

“I’m going to finish my life here,” she said. “The girl I raised, my daughter

— I call her my daughter — wants me to sell everything and move to Florida. Why should I disrupt my apartment upstairs, which is very beautiful, just for the next what three years maybe? How long do you think I’ll last?

In the late ‘90s, she was served on the town council. She found out how high the taxes were in Granby.

“We were the second highest in the county. I thought it was unfair, so I called Albany — before I was actually on the town council. They said take pictures of properties and then check their taxes to see how they are equal,” she said. “I did that for a whole summer. I drove myself to Albany and they said, ‘you need help in Granby.’ They couldn’t come to Granby unless the town council OK’d it.

“So I rented the War Memorial out of my pocket and the town council had a meeting there so the whole town could come and hear it. And the town board turned it down,” she added.

“So the next year the Democrats in Granby come to see me to see if I’d run for town council,” she continued. We Democrats ran for councilor, supervisor and we won. The first thing I did was get Albany here — and today, because of what I did, today we are the second lowest tax-wise. I’m proud of doing all of that, what I did. And I still look out for the people.”

Still playing pool

Bob Phelps said he “has been coming to Rosie’s 40 some years. She’s just amazing. A lot of the guys would stop here after work; a lot of the retirees hung out here, too.”

Does Rosie have any hobbies? “Plowing her driveway, mowing her lawn,” he quipped, adding “she can beat most of the people in here playing pool.”

“She plays a mean game of pool and can beat many of the younger players,” added Amy Gagliano, another of Rosie’s patrons. “The best part is her pool stick; she bought it many years ago for about 50 cents. She says it’s crooked, bent and old like her.”

“I still play pool, just fool around with it. I have a $1 cue stick. It’s cracked; got it years ago at a yard sale. Some guys come in with their $200 stick and I have a dollar stick,” Rosie said with a laugh.

Like family

Some patrons that go to Rosie’s Tavern today are three to four generation families that have been there for years,

Rosie playing pool at her Rosie’s Tavern. “She plays a mean game of pool and can beat many of the younger players,” says Amy Gagliano, who is a regular at Rosie’s.

Amy pointed out.

“This is just a neighborhood saloon. The people that come in here are like my family, my friends — my family. I know them and their parents and sometimes even grandparents,” Rosie said.

“One young guy come in here one day and he said, ‘you don’t know me, but I use to come in here with my grandfather and I sat right at that table and I watched you and my grandfather shoot pool.’ And he told me his name and I said, ‘oh my God, I remember.’ The generations go down and they come in and they tell me stories. I love it when they come in and talk like that; when people come in like that it does me great.”

Tomboy

Her brother asked her to come watch him play ball at a diamond in Syracuse years ago.

“I’m sitting in the bleachers and he comes over and says, ‘Rosie we got a problem. We’re one man short and we don’t want to give up the game. Would you come and play?’ I was the first wom an to play under the lights at that field. They put me in right field,” she said. “I was a tomboy. I don’t remember my batting average. I love baseball. I don’t like football or anything like that. But I love baseball. I’m a Mets fan.”

Rosie is also a unique joke teller, Amy said.

“Over the years, Rosie has told a collection of jokes with anybody that stops in her establishment. It is a place you do not walk out of without laughing — especially when she gets on a roll of telling them,” she said. “She always said, ‘if you can’t laugh at them, you have no humor in your life.’ Rosie has a group of patrons that come from Rochester several times a year specifically see her for her jokes and a warm atmosphere. The men come in first and their partners follow while passing through, heading North, for their vacations.

“It’s a true family-oriented atmosphere that makes it a true tavern atmosphere. Everyone is treated the same, whether it is your first time being there or a regular patron.”

Rosie’s Tavern was established in 1967 and is located at 435 county Route 3 in Fulton. Rosie lives upstairs from the bar and works every day of the week.

DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS: NURSING HOMES IN CRISIS

‘Over my 30 years in the industry, I’ve seen challenges come and go, but this moment is unprecedented in its severity.’

By Joe Murabito

The care of our elderly is in crisis. As the managing partner of Elemental Management Group, overseeing several nursing homes in New York state, I’ve witnessed firsthand the financial turmoil caused by the state’s unsustainable policies.

Over my 30 years in the industry, I’ve seen challenges come and go, but this moment is unprecedented in its severity.

I’m left questioning whether elected officials lack a fundamental understanding of the nursing home industry or if they simply do not care.

Regardless, there is an opportunity to educate them — as well as the public

— on why this issue matters so deeply. New York state’s nursing homes are being squeezed by two crushing forces: retroactive demands for COVIDera funding — money already spent on mandated staffing and care — and Medicaid reimbursement rates that fall far short of covering the cost of care. Together, these pressures are creating a perfect storm that threatens the future of elderly care in our state.

The Crisis at a Glance

Consider the following:

• Morningstar Residential Care Center (Oswego): This facility is being asked to repay more than $127,000 in COVID-era funding, despite operating with a Medicaid reimbursement rate less than $200 per day. Rising operational costs make this an impossible financial burden.

• Waterville Residential Care Center (Waterville): A fourth-generation, family-owned facility now facing a demand to repay $97,495 — funds used to meet state mandates for safe staffing and quality care. With Medicaid rates also less than $200 per day, the financial strain is overwhelming.

• Elcor Health Services (Horseheads): Managed by Elemental Management, Elcor has been notified it must repay more than $323,000. Like many facilities across New York, Elcor is grappling with severe financial instability fueled by unsustainable Medicaid rates and retroactive funding demands. These stories are not isolated. They represent the experiences of nursing homes statewide. Hundreds

“

“ New York state’s nursing homes are being squeezed by two crushing forces: retroactive demands for COVID-era funding — money already spent on mandated staffing and care — and Medicaid reimbursement rates that fall far short of covering the cost of care.

of nursing homes run by operators that I consider colleagues and friends are facing similar challenges. This is a systemic problem that requires immediate attention.

Why This Matters

When nursing homes struggle, the ripple effects impact everyone:

1. Displaced Seniors: When facilities close, elderly residents are uprooted, causing emotional and physical distress. Families are left scrambling to find alternative care, often far from home.

2. Strained Hospitals: Nursing homes play a critical role in transitioning patients out of hospitals. Without them, hospitals face discharge gridlocks, exacerbating an already strained healthcare system. We have proudly partnered with and support our local hospitals, including Oswego Health, to ensure continuity of care and better outcomes for our communities.

3. Diminished Dignity for Seniors: The state’s actions send a clear message that elderly care is no longer a priority, undermining the dignity and respect our seniors deserve.

A Call to Action

New York’s nursing homes cannot

survive without immediate relief. Policymakers must:

• Re-evaluate Repayment Demands: Retroactive claw backs of COVID-era funding are punitive and fail to consider the reality that these funds were spent to meet state-mandated requirements.

• Increase Medicaid Reimbursement Rates: The first step to solving the rate problem is to create better wage parity and reduce the gross disparity that exists today. Level the field by establishing base rate minimums for direct and indirect rate components. This will prevent further closures. From there, begin the process to develop a methodology that captures reasonable costs including capital improvements and that can effectively respond to market changes.

Prioritize Elderly Care: A comprehensive strategy is needed to address the growing crisis in long-term care.

The Bigger Picture

This issue is bigger than just numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about the dignity and care of our seniors, the stability of our communities and the future of healthcare in New York state. Facilities like Morningstar, Waterville and Elcor have served their communities for generations. Without intervention, their future — and the care of

thousands of elderly residents — hangs in the balance.

To put it in perspective, a Medicaid reimbursement rate of less than $200 a day is unsustainable.

According to Nestment, the national average rate for a one-night stay in a hotel room is $206. Let’s remember, this is an overnight in a hotel and does not include food or entertainment. Nobody is responsible for exceptional care, nutritious meals and a meaningful quality of life for elderly residents. Yet, this is the reality faced by facilities across New York state.

I’ve spent my career advocating for quality care and the sustainability of our industry. But now, I’m calling on the state to do its part. Let’s work together to ensure that New York’s seniors receive the care they deserve and that the facilities entrusted with their care have the resources they need to succeed.

JOE MURABITO is the managing partner at Elemental Management Group, which owns or operates several senior facilities in Upstate New York, including Morningstar Residential Care Center and The Gardens by Morningstar in Oswego.

Minimum Wage Hike. Again

How will raising the minimum affect the economy?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

New York’s statewide minimum wage increased by 50 cents on Jan. 1 this year and is scheduled to increase again by 50 cents on Jan. 1, 2026.

While this can help people who are in entry-level jobs bring home more bacon, the measure also raises concern that small businesses won’t keep pace with the raise.

Elvis Mehmedovic, franchise owner of Express Employment in Syracuse, isn’t concerned about a dramatic effect on small businesses.

“So far when the minimum wage went up to $15.50, we had only one person on assignment who had to be brought up to $15.50,” Mehmedovic said. “Because it was known that it’s going up, most places have been preparing in advance, setting it as $16 for a starting place. Most of our clients are small businesses. Most were already above that level.”

He believes that more than other employment sectors, retail and hospitality may be most affected, as food service typically functions under different minimum wage laws and fast-food chains usually pay at a higher rate anyway.

In addition, “some older companies that have been around a long time and have a higher number of people on staff could be affected,” Mehmedovic said. “We haven’t seen much effect.”

He explained that one reason that many of his client companies had already raised their starting rate is that COVID-driven inflation pushed their starting rates up. The market drove rates and so far, those rates haven’t gone down because inflation has not decreased. Since employers in many sectors have struggled to fill entry-level positions for the past five years, offering a higher starting payrate has helped keep those essential roles filled.

“Maybe there’s been internal discussion about shrinking their workforce by an individual or two,” Mehmedovic said of smaller companies. “But as for that being a big sticking point, they were applying a higher wage of even $16 an hour two years ago.”

It’s tough for many companies. But the higher cost of raw materials plus offering a higher payrate won’t force

companies to accept a loss. Mehmedovic said that companies feeling the pinch likely have cut employee benefits to accommodate higher payrates. They may reduce their healthcare plan to the bare minimum or eliminate unessential benefits. Many have lopped off extras from the budget like the company picnic or other frills.

The more pervasive effect of a higher starting payrate may be what Michelle Jevis calls a “ripple effect” on wages across an organization.

“As traditionally minimum-wage positions increase their wages, other higher-paying roles may also see an increase,” said Jevis, who is certified as a professional in human resources and serves as president at CR Fletcher Temps and Industrial in Syracuse.

If people filling an entry-level role receive pay close to that of someone with longer tenure and more education, skills and experience, it’s logical that the higher payrates will also receive a bump.

Like Mehmedovic, Jevis thinks that companies simply make up for payrate increases in other ways.

“Higher wages may lead to companies needing to cut costs in other areas, including hiring initiatives, leading to more job automation or integrated

she said.

As robotics, AI and other technology continues to progress, companies will need fewer entry-level employees. For example, in healthcare, automating appointment reminders can reduce the number of schedulers hired by a health system. In agriculture, technology is reducing manual labor tasks. Robotic milking systems dramatically reduce the number of employees needed to milk cows. Farms are also embracing drone technology to scout fields and spray crops and using GPS-guided tractors. In food service, kiosks have replaced order takers at many restaurants and some use robots to deliver drinks and food to tables.

Although the upfront cost of this type of technology is steep, forward-thinking employers who see a never-ending hike to entry-level wages view the investment as worthwhile.

U.S. Department of Labor.

Michelle Jevis is president at CR Fletcher Temps and Industrial in Syracuse.

Burritt Motors, Oswego

MICRON: THE LATEST AT CLAY’S FORTHCOMING COMPUTER CHIP FABS

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Micron’s investment of $100 billion for the next decade has captured the attention of the region, the state and nation.

The good news?

The project is going well, according to Bo Machayo, head of U.S. government and public affairs at Micron.

“We are excited about our expansion efforts in CNY,” Machayo said. “We are in the middle of our environmental review process. That is working with local, state and federal partners to make sure that we’re doing all that’s needed from an environmental point of view.”

That includes looking at the preliminary design, performing field studies and making permit applications for construction. The team will look at the building site’s impact regarding traffic and noise and how they will mitigate these effects in an environmentally appropriate way.

“We are committed to the site,” Machayo said.

The results of these studies won’t affect Micron’s selection of Clay for the self-described “microfab” chip plant.

“We do see that memory is very crucial to AI and we do make sure we’re getting our fabs up and

running to meet the market demand that exists,” Machayo said. “The Clay site is an important piece for us to be able to do that. It’s more making sure that we are obliging by the process the local, state and federal governments want us to do and minimize any impacts that exist. It’s a normal process. We are working closely with our partners.”

So far, no issues have arisen. The company hopes to complete this phase of the process later this year with a tentative ground-breaking this November. Construction should take between 18 and 24 months with operations beginning in 2027.

“We don’t anticipate any delays,” Machayo said. “We have great federal, state and local government partners. We’re partnering well with them on a host of issues to make sure this project is super successful.”

Micron is opening an office in downtown Syracuse by mid-2025 and looking forward to hiring for its roles in the plant. Machayo said that one of the reasons Clay was selected is the availability of a good workforce and plenty of “lowcost, carbon-free energy options,” he said. “We continue to see great value in these partnerships to see

how we can make this project the most successful. We’re the only company manufacturing memory in the nation. We’re looking forward to continuing to make progress on the site.”

Micron announced its expansion into New York in 2022. The Department of Commerce awarded the company $6.165 billion in direct funding to help support its construction in Boise, Idaho and Clay.

Current plans include four 600,000 sq. ft. cleanrooms, equaling the size of 40 US football fields. Micron has estimated that it will employ 9,000 in Clay and bring to the area 4,500 construction jobs along with 40,000 indirect jobs.

Providing training to the available workforce represents a vital key to the success of the project. Micron and New York state are investing $500 million in workforce and community development for the next 20-plus years, including training, education, and housing.

Micron intends to use only renewable electricity at the new plant and attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold status and companywide net zero emissions by 2050.

Rendering of the Micron in Clay. Officials say part of the plant can be operational in 2027.

PROGRESS

OUTLOOK

2025 OUTLOOK: WHAT BIG AND SMALL EMPLOYERS EXPECT

With the new year underway, local leaders and business owners say what they expect

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

“New York state must reprioritize its perspectives on assisted living and skilled nursing. Currently, the average Oswego County daily reimbursement rates are hovering around $200 per day. Broken down hourly, this is less than $9 per hour for 24/7 care. Despite much legislative outreach and data sharing, communications continue to fall on deaf ears. Inpatient post-acute care providers are key elements to community-based continuity of services and hospital support. New York state has largely failed to address increased costs and inflation specific to these layers of service despite significant and disproportionate investments elsewhere in the Medicaid system. We really need the attention this year.”

Joseph Murabito President and managing member, Elemental Management Group

“Our return-to-growth strategy that we implemented three years ago is well on its way and remains on a strong trajectory. In 2024, sales grew 5% year over year, and our backlog of $176 billion reached yet another record, demonstrating the enduring global demand for our superior, scalable and reliable products and systems. Each and every one of our four business areas saw backlog growth and ended the year with a book-to-bill ratio of greater than one. We fully expect these trends to continue in our 2025 outlook with mid-single-digit growth in sales, segment operating profit returning to 11%, and double-digit growth in free cash flow per share.”

Jim Taiclet Chairman, president and CEO Lockheed Martin

“CR Fletcher is excited about 2025. The CNY community is in a growth mode, looking ahead at new businesses coming to Syracuse and more established companies looking to maintain and grow. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with past and future clients, and we anticipate a great year.”

Michelle

Jevis President, CR Fletcher Temps and Industrial in Syracuse

“Our outlook for 2025 has improved since October, along with our rising value chain performance expectations. In addition to the benefit from the de-risking actions we took in 2024, we anticipate sales growth of 4% to 5% on top of the 5% we delivered in 2024. We expect manufacturing to again lead the way with 8% growth at the midpoint as we continue to ramp production

PROGRESS

“Healthcare providers across New York continue to face significant challenges in the wake of post-COVID expense inflation. Despite our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, safe care to our community, rising costs outpace revenue growth, making it increasingly difficult to sustain a business model that supports essential investments in equipment, technology and aging facilities. To address these pressures, we have taken decisive steps to consolidate and reduce administrative overhead, including joining a national healthcare system. This partnership has provided economies of scale that would have been unattainable on our own.

“Despite these obstacles, we have made meaningful progress in strengthening our position as a nationally recognized leader in areas like cardiac surgery while maintaining vital community-based services such as primary care and behavioral health. We are especially proud to be recognized as a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for the tenth consecutive year.”

Steven Hanks, MD President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Health and St. Peter’s Health Partners

across several programs to support the strong demand for our combat-proven munitions and integrated air and missile defense systems.”

Jay Malave CFO, Lockheed Martin

“We’re kicking into high gear. The winter season in Syracuse is usually slower, but we’re seeing an uptick as days are getting longer.”

Elvis Mehmedovic Franchise owner Express Employment, Syracuse

“We expect business to remain strong throughout 2025.”

Peter F. Russell President Fulton Tool Co., Inc.

“We appreciate the governor’s leadership and New York’s ongoing support for nuclear energy, which produces more than 20% of the state’s energy, supporting millions of households and businesses and employing thousands of hardworking women and men in family-sustaining jobs. Constellation has previously worked with NYSERDA to develop leading clean hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies using nuclear power. Now, NYSERDA and Constellation are once again joining

“together with a commitment to explore advanced nuclear energy technologies and continue the meaningful progress toward New York’s clean energy and economic development goals.”

Joe Dominguez President and CEO Constellation

“We are a third and fourth generation-owned overhead garage door company. This upcoming year, we hold the contracts with Onondaga and Oswego counties. They’re going to be keeping us very busy this year. A lot of the businesses around us are repair-oriented at the beginning of this year. I think that’s a good sign for the area economically. The year is starting off with a bang. We are controlling the overhead garage door business around us. We want to be the best-known overhead garage door company in Onondaga County.”

Samantha Bonnet General manager, Bonnet Sales and Service, Central Square

“Our clients recognize the value of print marketing and its collateral items. They know that print marketing offers a tangible, credible and lasting impression with their customers and we expect they will continue to choose this medium. We anticipate to continue

to see strong sales in both traditional print as well as large format signage and direct mail marketing, as the positive results our clients have seen and their repeat choice of print. We are excited for the potential 2025 has for us and for our clients.

Kathleen Randall Henry Vice president, Mitchell Printing & Mailing, Speedway Press

“Expansion. I want to keep it growing and reach out to get to more jobs and more people as customers. I want to grow the business in general.”

Carl Richardson Owner, Carl Richardson Blown Insulation & Painting, Phoenix

“I hope we can keep doing what we’re doing. We had a good year last year and we’re hoping to do the same thing, or better this year. We do HVAC, gas stoves and gas fireplaces. We handle a variety of brands. We do 24-hour emergency service for heating and A/C. We’re looking at hiring one to two more people. We’re growing every year. That ladder keeps getting taller.

Chuck Chiasson Owner Chiasson’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Scriba

PROGRESS

“Universal Metal Works has a very optimistic outlook on 2025. The past three years have been the best years in our organization’s history, and we hope to continue to build off that success in 2025. Additionally, we have an exceptional and dedicated team that is really going to help us to thrive in the upcoming year and beyond. September of 2025 will mark the 15th anniversary of Universal Metal Works which we look forward to celebrating.

John F. Sharkey, IV President Universal Metal Works

““Right now, it looks pretty good. We’re waiting for what’s going on between Mexico and Canada. Usually, we ship materials to Mexico and they assemble it and ship it back to the United States. We figure they won’t do it anymore with the higher rates. We’re waiting on that confirmation. With Canada, we receive materials and products that come across the border that probably will be higher.”

Don Kesterke Owner and president D-K Manufacturing Corp., Fulton

“My outlook is positive. I’m a home inspector and I work with both residential and commercial real estate. I’m looking forward to an increase in the real estate market. I have a positive view of that. I’ve seen an uptick in commercial business and less so for residential, but it is increasing. There’s a lot of confusion with the real estate market right now. Some folks have negative outlook in regard to it but I’m hoping to have the ball swing in the other direction.”

Ryan Mackridge Owner,

Hands On Home Inspections LLC, Pennellville

“Prior to Jan. 20, I invested heavily in inventory for my industrial and retail customers. Regardless of tariffs, we have price protection on imports for about six months. Our niche is truly our repair department, where we have added two employees in the past year to keep up with demand for service work. Fulton’s DRI program is beginning to take shape and I’m looking forward to seeing more investment and growth in the community.”

Joe Cortini, Jr. Owner, Cortini Shoe Zipper Canvas Repair, Fulton

“At Loretto, there is currently a high demand for senior care services, especially in memory care and short-term rehabilitation, and we expect that trend to continue in 2025 due to our aging baby boomer population. We will continue to face financial challenges because of the low Medicaid reimbursement rate, which does not cover the cost of care, and we aren’t alone. According to the most recent cost report, 70% of New York state nursing homes had negative operating margins due to nursing home rates falling short of costs. On a positive note, we expect the opportunities surrounding Micron will provide equitable prosperity, improving the health of our CNY population and, over time, improving access to care.”

Kimberly Townsend President & CEO,

Loretto

“For Fulton Savings Bank, we are both eager and optimistic coming into 2025 with the goal to continue to serve as an anchor institution within our branch footprint, which includes all of Oswego County and Northern Onondaga County. We have a strong, reliable workforce, as well as core priorities where we’ve aligned resources that focus on quality and consistently meeting our customers’ expectations. Specifically, we will continue to build out our ‘Universal Banker’ model across our branch footprint and this will both serve our customer needs more efficiently and create a positive, team-oriented work environment.

Pamela D. Caraccioli President & CEO, Fulton Savings Bank

“Depending on our business, we have a mixed outlook for the year 2025. For our silicone coated materials business, for which we started up our new operation in Pulaski late 2023, we are very bullish. The new capacity coupled with the right technology is meeting our customers’ needs and we see double digit growth for the year. In our digital imaging business however, our expectations are more pessimistic. Declines in home printing and somewhat lackluster demand for graphics and advertising is creating a challenging environment in 2025. Combined we should see growth, and our great team is motivated and passioned to make that happen.

Michael Szidat

CEO, Felix Schoeller, Pulaski

“““Novelis Oswego continues to be the largest provider of aluminum sheet to the auto industry and produces more than one billion pounds of rolled aluminum products each year. In addition to our commitment to safe and efficient operations, Novelis will continue to expand our support for recycling, STEM education and workforce development through our partnerships with Citi BOCES P-Tech program, The Children’s Museum of Oswego, Rosamond Gifford Zoo, SUNY Oswego and others. Developing the skilled workforce of tomorrow is critical to manufacturing across the region and helps to ensure Novelis will keep rolling in Oswego for another 60 years.

Kristen Nelson Plant manager

Novelis Oswego

“The outlook for EJ in the USA is very bright. Demand for our ‘Made in USA’ products is very strong due to various federal Buy American legislation. EJ products will be used throughout projects like the I-81 construction in Syracuse and the construction of the Micron chip plant. In addition to producing standard products, we are the leader in producing innovative products. Innovation is key to the success of EJ. EJ continues to invest in our people, equipment and facilities. Our Phoenix-Schroeppel facility recently installed and additional state-of-art robotic system. This type of investment positions EJ with a competitive advantage for future success. We also pride ourselves as good stewards within our communities. We remain very active with the Oswego Workforce Development Board, CiTi P-TECH and BOCES programs as well as the surrounding school districts. We also actively support Erin’s Angels and the good work they do within our community. We are thankful to be part of Oswego County.

Tim McKernan Facility manager, EJ USA

MIAP is sponsored by MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, the Alliance Partners, and the New York State Department of Labor. The program makes it easy for companies to identify training and educate mentors, source related technical instruction, develop curriculum, and establish New York State Registered Apprenticeships.

A Proven Method for Workforce Expansion

MIAP is a business-led approach targeted at raising the skill levels of manufacturing workers and creating distinctive career pathways.

The benefits of starting a Registered Apprenticeship program are:

• High worker satisfaction

• Talent pipeline

• Cost savings

• Reputation

‘To stay competitive in today’s fast-moving economy, Oswego County must ensure a steady pipeline of shovel-ready industrial sites.’

WAUSTIN M. WHEELOCK,

certified economic developer (CEcD), is the executive director of Operation Oswego County, Inc. For more information, call 315-343-1545 or visit www. oswegocounty.org.

ooc@oswegocounty.org

Building Tomorrow: A Vision for Oswego County’s Economic Growth

hen you think of economic development, excitement and opportunity may not always come to mind — but for us, they are at the heart of everything we do.

Economic Trends

At Operation Oswego County, the county’s designated economic development organization, every day brings new inspiration, as we never know exactly what opportunities will unfold.

This is because economic development is about equipping our local economy with the tools and resources it needs to create resiliency, adapt to change, attract investment and create opportunities that benefit everyone.

Whether it is an advanced manufacturing company relocating here to make clean room components or a local Mexican restaurant looking to expand, we are constantly energized by the growth that we see happening in our community.

One thing is clear: the future of economic development in Oswego County is unfolding right now, driven by a vision of innovation, strategic investment, and collaboration. As the county evolves to meet the demands of tomorrow’s industries, we are committed to building a foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.

From expanding industrial parks to attracting cutting-edge industries to providing vital small business financing that supports rural and downtown revitalization, Oswego County is positioning itself to be a leader in the next wave of economic progress.

Site Development: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Industries

The mantra is clear: if you do not have sites ready for new businesses, you are not truly open for business.

To stay competitive in today’s fast-moving economy, Oswego County must ensure

a steady pipeline of shovel-ready industrial sites.

By the end of 2025, OOC and the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency — with the assistance of state and federal economic development partners — will begin construction on the expanded L. Michael Treadwell Oswego County Industrial Park in the town of Schroeppel. This expansion builds on momentum gained in 2024 with the allocation of $2.5 million in federal funds from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. These funds, along with matching local investments, will be used to develop essential infrastructure, including public roads, water and sewer systems, making the site an attractive location for advanced manufacturing and semiconductor supply chain businesses.

The proximity of the expanded industrial park to the Micron semiconductor site and the planned investments has already sparked interest from several companies seeking to take advantage of the region’s infrastructure and strategic location.

Oswego County is on the verge of becoming an important contender in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing supply chain. The expansion of the industrial park is a key piece of the county’s dynamic economic development strategy, aligning with innovative trends in technology and manufacturing.

Beyond the LMTOCIP expansion, officials are collaborating with the owners of Riverview Business Park, the former Attis ethanol plant and nearby properties just outside the city of Fulton in the town of Volney, to create a “clean and green technology” park. This initiative will fuel innovation in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness and renewable sectors.

The $26 million renovation of the RBP, located on the site of the old Miller

Brewery, is already underway — with half of the 800,000-square-foot space ready for new tenants and the rest set for completion by 2026. Coupled with the county’s acquisition and reimagining of the former ethanol plant, this effort will help make the “clean and green” vision a reality.

To support this, OOC is assisting a technology company in advancing a project to manufacture ultra-pure CO2 and clean energy on an adjacent site owned by the Oswego County IDA, generating significant economic activity and acting as a catalyst for additional businesses to expand and thrive.

Building on Oswego County’s Competitive Strengths

Despite being a rural county, Oswego County has an abundance of globally impactful competitive advantages and we are committed to ensuring the world

knows about them.

Oswego County’s economic success is built on three key advantages: power, water and workforce.

As one of the Northeast’s largest energy producers, the county is home to more than 5,500 megawatts of power generation, including nuclear, hydro, natural gas, solar and wind. With three of New York’s four nuclear plants located here, Oswego is a key energy hub. In partnership with Constellation, the state is also exploring the possibility of a fourth advanced nuclear reactor at Nine Mile Point, which would create hundreds of additional high-paying jobs and advance clean energy goals. The county’s access to abundant clean water from Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake and local rivers supports industries ranging from manufacturing to tourism, with recent developments like the Lake Ontario Marine Sanctuary and expansions at the Port of Oswego further boosting economic potential.

Additionally, Oswego County’s skilled workforce is a cornerstone of its future, with workforce development initiatives at institutions like SUNY Oswego, Cayuga Community College, and CiTi BOCES preparing the next generation of talent for key industry sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and agribusiness.

A Strategic Path to Growth

Oswego County truly has something special — its geographic and community diversity creates a rich mix of economic development and growth opportunities, from heavy industry to tourism to agriculture.

Each area of the county has its own unique strengths, and with the right economic strategy in place, every part of the county can thrive.

Whether it is the developing industrial and technology hubs, the charming downtowns, the picturesque spots that

Rendering of the renovated Foundry banquet facility in Oswego. Photo courtesy of Alberts Group.

draw tourists or the vast agricultural lands that feed our citizens and fuel our economy, every corner of the county plays a key role in our economic success.

In our vision, all communities — from Oswego to Redfield and Cleveland to Schroeppel — have opportunities for growth and it is our mission to facilitate prosperity throughout the entire county. By working together with our businesses, municipalities and residents in a planned and collaborative approach, we can unlock the full potential of Oswego County and create lasting, shared success.

In 2025, we are making a concerted effort to meet our businesses and citizens where they reside and ensure our programs and resources support businesses large and small, urban, and rural, from corner to corner of the county.

Rebranding Operation Oswego County: A Fresh Vision for Future Growth

As Oswego County charts its path forward in a rapidly changing economic landscape, Operation Oswego County recognizes the need to evolve its identity to better reflect its dynamic role in driving regional growth.

Rebranding the organization is not just about updating a logo or a name — it is about signaling a new chapter in economic development. As the county becomes an increasingly vital hub for emerging industries like semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy and advanced technologies, OOC’s brand must convey innovation, collaboration and a forward-thinking approach.

The rebranding will help highlight Oswego County’s competitive strengths, making it easier to attract resources and business opportunities.

By modernizing its image, OOC can stand out in a crowded market and reinforce its mission to support sustainable economic growth across diverse sectors. This move not only strengthens OOC’s position in the current landscape but also signals the organization’s readiness to take on future challenges and ensure that Oswego County remains an attractive destination for both businesses and residents alike.

In upcoming issues, we will continue to dive deeper into the various aspects of our economic vision and share examples of our successes and future initiatives, including projects focused on sustainable growth, innovation and community development, so stay tuned for more insights.

Rendering of the new ConnextCare Oswego location. Photo courtesy of ConnextCare.

N.E.T. & Die is expanding in Fulton. Shown are Michelle Shatrau, the company’s chief executive officer, and Austin Wheelock, Operation Oswego County’s executive director. Photo courtesy of Operation Oswego County

Assemblyman Barclay

Optimistic About Region’s Future

Micron, plans for small modular nuclear reactor at Nine Mile Point and infrastructure improvement in the area are some of the reasons to be optimistic, says State Assembly Minority Leader Barclay

By Mary Beth Roach

Its geographic location. Its waterfront. Its beautiful scenery and venues. Its “right-size” cities and the diversity of its communities. The new Micron facility planned in Clay, near the Onondaga-Oswego County line. Infrastructure improvements and plans for a possible small modular nuclear reactor at Nine Mile Point.

These are some of the resources and projects that give State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) hope for ongoing progress in Oswego

County and Central New York. Barclay’s 120th Assembly District includes Oswego County.

“I think the balance that we have between industry and agriculture and tourism is a nice balance. We’re not over reliant on one or the other. I think we can build on that,” he said.

Case in point, tourism is a large revenue source for the area. According to the New York State Tourism Association website, visitors in 2023 spent $228 million and Barclay points to his

hometown of Pulaski as an example of how tourism has taken hold and how it can benefit a region.

“I think the more people we can bring into our area; they’re going to see how wonderful it is to live there and hopefully want to stay. I think I think we just build on that,” he said.

But his optimism is tempered to some degree. As he noted, it can be challenging to do business in New York state. While he said there are some things that make him feel optimistic,

State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) in October at the annual “Local Landscapes & Landmarks” art exhibit, held at The Art Scene at CNY Arts Center. He shakes hands with Ray Grela, a local artist and photographer.

“but we still struggle in New York. We’re a tax-and-spend state. I think that trajectory, unfortunately, hasn’t changed,” he said in a recent interview.

However, one of the projects that Barclay has strongly supported — a small modular reactor — is showing signs of moving forward. He sees a small nuclear reactor as a great opportunity for Oswego County, citing the efficiency of nuclear power and noting the tremendous amount of power that Micron will require.

It was announced in mid-January that Constellation Energy, which owns one unit and the majority of a second unit at Nine Mile Point, is working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on a grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy for an early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for at least one advanced nuclear reactor at Nine Mile.

“I’ve always said we should be the energy capital of New York state. We have the nuclear reactors, we have the steam station, we have hydro. So, I think it sort of fits in the portfolio that we have another one,” he said.

“I think with the Trump administration, I think even with the governor, there seems to be a recognition that

nuclear needs to be part of the solution to our energy problems going forward,” he added.

Also important to an area’s progress is its infrastructure and Oswego County’s should see a big boost.

It was recently announced by local media that New York state is making millions of dollars in funding available to Oswego County, for a variety of projects in communities throughout the county. These projects include sidewalk construction and rehab in Pulaski and Minetto and a pedestrian bridge; improvements to the wastewater plant in Parish; the eventual removal of the Pulaski Dam on the Salmon River; plans for the development of a Brownfield Opportunity Area in Schroeppel, near the planned Micron facility; continued lakefront development and recreational opportunities in Oswego.

“Infrastructure is something that I do think the government has a duty to provide and so I try to advocate for those on the state level. I try to have parity between projects downstate and upstate,” he said. Strides in these areas will “allow for future development. I think those types of things will ultimately lead to a better business climate in Oswego County.”

Infrastructure will become even more critical as the county experiences more growth and he pointed out, that the area needs to be prepared to take advantages of these opportunities.

One of those needs is affordable housing, citing the possibility of a large influx of new residents coming in for the Micron facility.

“We don’t have the housing stock in Oswego County. I always wanted to see what we could do to lower the cost so developers would be interested in coming in and developing,” he said.

A 22-year member of the Assembly and a lifelong Oswego County resident whose family has been rooted in the region for eight generations, Barclay said “I try to support business and industry in Oswego County that we currently have and also try to advocate to make New York more business-friendly. I will always try to fight for parity.”

He noted that with 212 legislators in Albany, along with the governor, there are many and varied priorities.

“I always do my best to advocate, make sure at least when it comes to spending dollars, we have parity with other parts of the state,” he said.

Located in the heart of progress, Fulton is dedicated to providing a supportive environment for businesses of all sizes. Join us as we build a brighter future and discover what we can achieve together!

We provide funding for various initiatives, including:

• DRI Impact Zone

• Westside Revitalization

For additional details, call 315-593-7166 or visit fultoncda.com 125 W. Broadway - Fulton NY, 13069

State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay.

MACNY President:

‘The

Central New York Region Is a Hot Spot for Manufacturing’ Manufacturing

Manufacturing is poised for significant growth in New York state, according to Randy Wolken, MACNY president & CEO.

“Our expansion here will also contribute to meaningful growth in manufacturing for the entire country,” he said. “The Central New York region is a hot spot for manufacturing. It is pretty exciting. We are very pleased that this is happening.”

Obviously there is a huge amount of excitement because of Micron and the supply chain around Micron, he added.

“But also other companies and industries are investing in the area. So it is much broader than Micron,” he said. “But Micron clearly is a meaningful part of what’s going to happen in northern Onondaga and Oswego County, too. I think a lot of investment is going to flow into Oswego County.”

COVID-19 sent a strong message to the country.

“We need to have our supply chains close. We don’t want them to be across the globe,” he said. “We must make critical products here in the United States. Disruptions in extended supply chains during the pandemic taught us that our national and economic security is tied to our ability to design and make essential products stateside.

“We cannot rely on the rest of the world for items of both national and economic importance that we need produced. This includes semiconductor chips and the essential products that they’re required for. Extended supply chains in countries like China threaten our ability to respond as needed and because of this, we must reassert the United States as the world’s greatest manufacturing nation.”

Manufacturing itself has continued to evolve, he pointed out.

“These are high-tech jobs; they are not low-paying, they are high-end jobs with a lot of technology involved. It is very competitive these days” he said. “We’ll see a lot of robotics and A I. Robotics will be involved in virtually everything in manufacturing.”

AI is part of most technical solutions today — all the technology uses A I, he said.

“But at the same time, we won’t have enough workers,” he added. “It’s not as if we are going to let people go because AI is going to take their job. People are going to have to continue to invest. The Novelises of the world,

“

“ We could see more than 100,000 people here over the next 20 years. I think there are significant people moving here. Clearly part of the challenge will be having enough housing, sufficient infrastructure and all the other things like schools.

the Nucors, you name it — they are all investing in technology and upgrading the skills of their people.”

Wolken said that what’s fascinating about manufacturing today is because it is so high-tech it really is a place where people want to be.

“Those jobs are highly desirable and now we are seeing it grow in terms of number of jobs needed,” he said. “There really are hundreds of job open today and thousands of jobs will be open in the near future.”

There is a huge desire to be in this work because it pays so well and these are sustainable jobs, according to Wolken.

“For example, when you build a chip making facility, that thing never moves. You don’t spend $20 billion and then move the plant,” he said. “It’s not like those jobs are going to move.

“In the past there was a lot of concern. But these jobs are going to be here for a long period of time. We’ll see growth that is going to be here for a long period of time. That’s what makes manufacturing different than it was even 10 or 15 years ago; a lot of investment, a lot of great excitement about it. I think that is what makes it different. These are great jobs; they are not going away. People don’t have to be worried about these jobs leaving; these jobs are going to stay here for decades.”

“Collectively, our nation knows

we need to regain our strategic manufacturing capabilities. For instance, our federal government agreed to massive investments in semiconductor production capacity to build essential computer chips right here in the U.S.,” he continued. “This investment is helping to fund new chip fabs and greatly enhancing our ability to make the vital products that drive our national and economic security.

“New York state is poised to be the home of general semiconductor production and advanced manufacturing facilities. These high-tech advanced manufacturing facilities fit right into our sweet spot. Micron’s commitment to building four chip fabs at an estimated cost of over $100 billion is just one example of our bright future.”

Oswego County is a prime location. It has the skilled workforce, water … really an abundance of water, land and the ability to generate more energy.

“We could see more than 100,000 people here over the next 20 years,” he said. “I think there are significant people moving here. Clearly part of the challenge will be having enough housing, sufficient infrastructure and all the other things like schools. So a whole lot of growth and investment needs to take place.”

Workforce

According to Wolken, the local workforce is among the most educated due to an extensive and outstanding elementary through graduate school education system.

“We also have significant technical schools and apprenticeship systems in place. As a result, we can meet the substantially increased need for a technical and highly educated workforce — this is essential to growing existing manufacturing facilities as well as attracting future ones,” he said. “All future manufacturers will use the latest in robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality and automation to produce every product. This type of manufacturing requires what we have here in New York state: the people, the know-how and an unmatched commitment to manufacturing excellence.”

“Overall, it’s impressive to see how far we’ve come. As a state, we’re ready to once again assume our leading role in global manufacturing,” he said. “New York is a premier destination for many manufacturers who want to make the U.S. their home. MACNY is grateful to be a part of the ecosystem that supports manufacturing excellence throughout New York state. It’s an exciting time for manufacturing in New York state!”

By Stefan Yablonski

Jobs in heating, ventilation and air conditioning are in high demand. “There’s probably 10 jobs per one individual. “There’s every company that wants HVAC work done. Lots of new buildings are going up and plenty of old buildings need to be renovated,” said Elvis Mehmedovic, franchise owner of Express Employment in Syracuse.

Hottest Professions: What’s in Big Demand in CNY?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

The CNY employment statistics are looking good.

“Job growth has been particularly strong in private health care and social assistance, which saw a 6.4% rise in its employment level over the year ending in November 2024,” said Karen Knapik-Scalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Research & Statistics in Syracuse. “Within private health care and social assistance, hiring has been

strong at doctor’s offices, hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities.

“Employment in the construction sector has grown by 3% over the year as the demand for workers increases due to retiring baby boomers, the need to replace aging infrastructure — roads, bridges, water pipes — and the I-81 project.

“Hiring has also been brisk at professional and business services firms and among accommodation and food

services businesses. The government sector also added 800 jobs within the Syracuse metro area over the 12 months ending in November 2024, with particular strength in the state government educational services portion.”

The professions high in demand include skilled trades.

Elvis Mehmedovic, franchise owner of Express Employment in Syracuse, mentioned carpentry, plumbing, electrical repair, HVAC work, gas line repair

and home repair and renovation as hot professions, which aligns with Scalzo’s assessment.

“There’s probably 10 jobs per one individual,” Mehmedovic said. “There’s every company that wants HVAC work done. Lots of new buildings are going up and plenty of old buildings need to be renovated. So many of the houses in Onondaga County were built in the ‘60s and ‘70s. There are tens of thousands of those. There’s not enough support in trades. There’s no area in the trades that has too many.”

Another high-demand field is anything in the medical industry, from entry-level to specialty doctors.

An already understaffed employment sector, the pandemic compounded the problem as about 20% of healthcare workers quit during the pandemic, amounting to half a million people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Home care has been short-staffed for a decade or two,” Mehmedovic offered as an example.

The aging baby boomer generation is worsening the problem both by the droves of people from that age demographic retiring and also because of their increasing need for medical care as they age.

The transportation and trucking industry is yet another sector for which Mehmedovic said employers need more workers. One reason is the continued growth in online sales and home delivery. During the pandemic, both of these saw phenomenal increases and many consumers continue to prefer shipped goods over shopping in person. As Gen X and boomers age, this trend will likely continue because they enjoy the convenience of ordering online.

Suzanne Benderski, chief of staff at CTS in Liverpool, sees advanced manufacturing and construction as industries that are growing and needing more workers.

“We expect to see growth in all areas over the next few years,” Benderski said. “Micron’s arrival should drive growth in all sectors.”

Micron’s new microchip plant in Clay will require workers skilled in the industry as well as a plethora of jobs related to the plant’s supply chain and administrative support. Estimates range from 9,000 people directly working at Micron to 50,000 workers in the CNY area indirectly related to the new plant’s presence.

PROGRESS

Labor Market: Are Employers Finding the Help They Need?

Find skilled and qualified employees still a challenge for employers, says expert

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

It’s been a wild 2020s so far.

The pandemic turned the economy on its ear with massive layoffs and furloughs in some sectors, 20% of healthcare employees quitting, soaring inflation and a shortage of entry-level workers.

Despite these challenges the Syracuse metro area economy is in a healthy position, according to Karen KnapikScalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor in Syracuse.

She has plenty of reasons to feel optimistic, such as an uptick in both residential and commercial renovation and construction and the forthcoming Micron project. All of these generate more employment.

However, finding staff to fill these growth-fueled positions may prove challenging for area employers.

“It is still a challenge to find skilled and qualified employees for a number of industries in Central New York,” said Suzanne Benderski, chief of staff for CTS in Liverpool. “This will be an area of continued focus with local leaders as the

region prepares for significant growth over the next several years.”

One reason is that it’s tough to find people with the skills and education needed to fill certain skilled roles.

Elvis Mehmedovic, franchise owner of Express Employment in Syracuse, said that although many new jobs are becoming available in the area, they don’t match the workforce available. “There’s a certain lack of talent and that’s tough. It’s one of those catch22s. We have a bunch of development and new jobs, but it doesn’t match the workforce available at this time. It’s a little difficult at this time.”

Even though CNY has plenty of schools among the SUNY system, community colleges and private school, it’s hard convincing graduates to stay here after they complete their studies.

According to livingcost.org, the average cost of living in Syracuse is $2,440, placing it in the top 9% of the most expensive cities in the world. The site salary.com ranks the cost of living in Syracuse as 3.2% higher than the national average with prices increasing

1.5% from a year ago. Syracuse’s largest expense increases were in the categories of transportation, food and housing.

Mehmedovic believes that the key to enticing more people to want to stay in CNY has to do with showcasing the quality of life the region offers.

“We have mountains and seasons,” he said. “There’s the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, caverns and caves. We have any kind of geography you’d want. The only thing we don’t have is desert. I think the Central New York area is forgotten about. Outsiders think of New York City and Niagara Falls.”

Mehmedovic also thinks that people considering where to live should think about the more rural and outlying areas, such as Baldwinsville, DeWitt, Fulton, Phoenix and East Syracuse, all which have affordable housing and small town living.

“There’s plenty of cheap houses,” he said. “There are even cheap houses in downtown Syracuse. We have to get people who want grow families here for long-term growth. This is a good place to raise a family.”

School rankings represent one essential metric of family-friendly cities. According to US News rankings, high schools in CNY maintain high graduation rates, for example.

In addition to showcasing the area’s quality of life, company human resources professionals can also take their time in the recruiting and screening process.

Michelle Jevis, president of CR Fletcher Temps and Industrial in Syracuse, advocates for slowing down the hiring process to ensure the right fit.

“Take the time to interview thoroughly and offer candidates the opportunity to shadow to ensure they understand the role,” Jevis said. “Unemployment may still be low, but that’s not a reason to rush hiring. Instead, I recommend the opposite — take the time necessary to find the right person.”

This can help companies avoid wasting their time as well as that of applicants for positions to which they’re ill suited.

Checking all the boxes for the right skills, certification and education is only part of the hiring process.

“I also recommend thinking outside of the box when trying to find a cultural fit,” Jevis said. “Instead, try to find the cultural addition, i.e., find someone who brings new energy, ideas and perspective.”

Job Growth ‘Strong’ in CNY

Experts: The future looks promising in CNY

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

This year promises to continue the region’s upswing in employment.

As of November 2024, the New York State Department of Labor reports that the Syracuse metropolitan statistical area, including Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties, has 296,200 private sector jobs and 370,100 nonfarm (private plus government) jobs.

The four industry sectors that comprise 70% of total nonfarm jobs include government (73,900); trade, transportation and utilities (71,100); private education & health services (71,000); and professional & business services (41,500).

“Local unemployment rates are low and job growth is strong over a diversified industry base,” said Karen Knapik-Scalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Research & Statistics in Syracuse. “The Syracuse metropolitan statistical area’s November 2024 unemployment rate of 3.3% is well below the year-ago level of 3.7% and is also below the state [4.2%] and national [4.0%] levels. Job growth continues in

the Syracuse metro area as 4,200 nonfarm jobs were added over the year ending in November 2024.”

The NYS-DOL further states on its website that “private sector jobs in the Syracuse metro area rose over the year by 5,400, or 2.1%, to 263,400 in December 2024 as the economy continues to expand. Job gains occurred in private education and health services (+2,900), professional and business services (+900), trade, transportation and utilities (+700), leisure and hospitality (+600), mining, logging and construction (+400) and other services (+100). Job losses occurred in information (-200). The government job count rose over the year (+800), with growth concentrated in state government education.”

In Oswego County, the unemployment rate was 4.2% in December 2024, lower than the 5.2% in the same month the year before, marking the fifth month in a row that year in which the unemployment rate was lower than in 2023.

Employment by industry in the Syracuse MSA is divided into trade/transportation/utilities (20%), government

(19%), private education & health (18%), professional (12%), leisure/hospitality (9%), manufacturing (8%), other (5%), construction (4%) and finance (4%).

One of the major catalysts of forthcoming changes that may shift some of these categories’ percent of the pie is the upcoming Micron expansion in Clay. Micron’s self-proclaimed “mega-fab” microchip plant will include an investment of approximately $100 billion through 2030, representing the largest private investment in New York State history. The project is estimated to generate about 50,000 jobs, both directly related to chip manufacturing and spinoff jobs created to support the building of the site and to provide the needs of newcomers to the area.

Elvis Mehmedovic, franchise owner of Express Employment in Syracuse, calls the new plant a “major project,” that along with new restaurants and hotels and increased enrollment at SU and LeMoyne shows growth in the area.

“That powerhouse back in the day that Syracuse used to be is kind of being rediscovered,” Mehmedovic said. “The location in and of itself is central. It’s a phenomenal junction to move goods. Transportation has always been good here.”

The region’s abundant water, educational opportunities and available workforce are resources that can continue to fuel employment growth in area.

Karen Knapik-Scalzo is the associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Research & Statistics in Syracuse.

Top Projects in Oswego County

From manufacturing to health to housing: OOC director discusses main projects taking place in Oswego County

By Stefan Yablonski

Austin Wheelock, executive director of Operation Oswego County, shares the projects that he’s excited about for 2025.

“They may not be the biggest projects, but they are the ones I am excited about with a lot of synergy,” he said.

N.E.T. & Die Expansion

The N.E.T. & Die expansion in the city of Fulton. “They are a third-generation family-owned machine shop that has had the need for several years to expand. They have begun expansion and relocation into the former K-mart Plaza in the city of Fulton,” he said.

“They acquired and are renovating a 92,000s-sq.-ft. building. Once it’s done they will move most of their operation over to that facility.”

The project is going to create 10 new jobs and retain 25 other jobs. The new net payroll is going to be more than $750,000.

“It’s a great project. It keeps a three-generation family owned business in the city of Fulton and allows them to grow,” he said. “It’s a pretty large investment; it’s between $6 million to $7 million.

“It’s a reuse of a vacant building; that building has been vacant since K-mart left.”

They have received assistance through the IDA and Empire State Development.

ConnextCare to Add 23 New Jobs

ConnextCare’s expansion in the city of Oswego. “The acquisition and renovation of 120 E. First St., the former education center, a building has been mostly vacant for the last several years. Aqua Spa is on the ground floor, but the majority of the building has been vacant,” Wheelock said. “It’s going to be a good reuse of that facility. Renovation of about 36,000-sq.-ft. site — going to renovate the second and third floors for primary health care, dental and behavioral health services. It’s a great project. They are going to retain 32 jobs that they currently have in the city and going to create 23 new jobs. Their total annual payroll is about $4.9 million for those 55 jobs.

“The IDA is participating and Oswego County Civic Facilities Corporation issued some bond financing because it’s a nonprofit user. Also Pathfinder Bank is financing as well. Altogether between acquisition and renovation, it’s almost a $12 million project.”

The ConnextCare project is expected to be complete by the summer.

Phoenix: 11 Projects Under Development

“This is not an individual project, but the program that funded it does it this way on purpose,” he said. “In the village of Phoenix (which won the New York Forward back in 2023) — they announced 11 projects totaling $4.5 million of state funding that will support an additional funding of over $9 million in private sector for the downtown and waterfront areas.”

The 11 projects will all be going on at the same time to create a ‘critical mass,’ he added.

Some of these projects include things like transforming North Island into a canal side entertainment venue and recreation area, the expansion of Lock One Distillery with outdoor events, transforming another building that is adjacent to Lock One into a restaurant with other commercial space above it.

“There is going to be a lot of projects

Downtown Phoenix about to get a big boost: Investments totalling $13.5 million in state and private funds will bankroll 11 projects in the village.

happening in this area. Taking vacant and unused buildings and in some case building new buildings to revitalize the downtown area. Which is important as the village of Phoenix is just over the river and down a couple miles from where a lot of economic development will be happening,” he said. “There’s a lot of potential for housing and commercial spinoffs — the timing couldn’t be better.”

A new behavioral health building is also being developed as well as constructing a new daycare facility. Phoenix will also upgrade its wastewater plant to help support all these projects.

“That is a major project,” according to Wheelock. “You can build these buildings, but if you don’t have the infrastructure to support it, it doesn’t work.”

Industrial Park: Shovels in the Ground to Start Later This Year

The L. Michael Treadwell Industrial Park expansion in Schroeppel is a project that he is very excited about.

“In 2024 we received a major portion of the funding to get that project going. Our next step now is where we are just starting our final design and construction designs with the anticipation of starting site work and construction in late 2025. We’ll see shovels in the ground and work happening by the end of the year,” he said. “That will be about a two-year, maybe a little shorter if we have better construction seasons than we do this winter. About summer 2027 everything should be complete. That doesn’t mean that businesses wouldn’t be able to start working on site sooner than that, but for the project as a whole we’re looking at ’27.”

Senator Charles Schumer awarded $2.5 million EDA funds to support the construction of new roads water and sewer.

“Everything is coming together. We do have several other projects who have already expressed interest in locating there. So it’s important for us to get this moving now so we can potentially land those projects,” Wheelock explained.

Affordable Housing to Be Built on the Nestle Site

He is also excited about the progress and development in 2025 at the Nestle

site related to a residential project as well as a manufacturing project.

In 2024 the city of Fulton changed the zoning for the Nestle site from strictly industrial to being able to support mixed use development and that was the trigger needed to push certain projects forward. One of them being an affordable housing 48-unit (mixed income residential) project.

“It’s in application phase right now at the state, but we fully anticipate that getting done early in 2025. It’s being done by Housing Visions and Construction Design Management. It will be at the main Nestlé property site,” he said. “It will also have some commercial space in the first floor being proposed for a chocolate museum. That will be a nice project that will add residential capacity at a time that it is greatly needed and also sort of celebrate the rich history of that site.”

They are looking to move the 30,000 square foot manufacturing incubator onto the Building 30 site.

“Building 30 is slated to be demolished and we are just waiting for the last pieces of funding for that to move forward,” he said. “I think they will be on parallel paths; but the housing project will be a little bit ahead of the manufacturing project just because there is also demolition involved.

“We anticipate that the manufacturing incubator, with Micron supply chain companies that are going to be coming to Central New York — will be a great location to try to attract businesses. The Fulton Chocolate Works Housing Project — the name might change down the road — is a $20-plus project. The incubator, including demo and construction of new building, will be about a $7 million project.”

Oswego Market House

“The Oswego DRI created great momentum in sort of transforming downtown Oswego and utilizing some vacant buildings. This is kind of a continuation of that momentum — keeping that momentum from the DRI going,” he said. “The Oswego Market House — the brewery and the apartments there — that’s another significant project. It wasn’t a DRI project, but the momentum of the DRI kind of carried into that. It should be open very soon.”

Robert Simpson, president and chief executive officer of CenterState CEO: “There is a noted shift in community mindset, from “is this real,’ to ‘we deserve to win.’ I hear it in meetings and it’s highlighted in the data shared in this year’s Economic Forecast Report.”

Top Projects in Central New York CenterState CEO: ‘We Are Becoming a Fast-growing Community’

By Stefan Yablonski

At a very high level, 2025 is about capitalizing on this moment, according to Robert Simpson, president and chief executive officer of CenterState CEO.

“We are becoming a fast-growing community. But this doesn’t mean that the challenges we face are any less significant. In fact, the stakes could not be higher,” he said. “But there is a noted shift in community mindset, from “is this real,’ to ‘we deserve to win.’ I hear it in meetings and it’s highlighted in the data shared in this year’s Economic Forecast Report. In fact, 86% describe Central New York’s 2025 economic outlook as good or excellent.”

Micron has crossed two major milestones off the list — receiving its chips and science award, as well as its submission of its preliminary draft

environmental impact statement, he said, adding, “We can see the shift and growth of the supply chain and others in this sector taking shape.”

The economic development pipeline remains strong at nearly $6 billion representing almost 60 projects and more than 9,000 new jobs [as of early January 2025], he added.

He anticipates that as the year progresses this pipeline will continue to grow rapidly.

Over the next decade, projects like TTM, Micron, Wolfspeed and Global Foundries will ensure that one in four American-made chips are produced within 350 miles of the NY SMART I-Corridor, according to Simpson.

“Last June, alongside partners from Rochester and Buffalo our corridor was named the first tech hub award winner,

the only tech hub in the nation focused on semi-conductors,” he said. “This year we anticipate a wave of advanced manufacturing investments returning to our community. Several local delegations visited Asia in the past year and we welcomed folks here explore supply chain, investment and business development opportunities related to the region’s growing prominence in the semiconductor industry. We know there will be more repeat trips in the coming year as Micron’s suppliers and others look for growth opportunities in the region.”

More Than Micron

It isn’t just Micron and other microelectronics companies that are signaling the shift in the economy.

“Many of this year’s forecasters acknowledged the impact Micron will have on driving growth in 2025 and beyond. They see emerging opportunities related to Micron in construction trades, advanced manufacturing, engineering, housing, education and tourism,” he said. “In fact, 71% of this year’s forecasters see themselves as beneficiaries of the anticipated growth of Central New York’s technology economy.”

New business formations are another bright spot in the Central New York economy, according to Simpson.

In 2022, while new business formation cooled somewhat with business applications declining slightly across New York state, Central New York saw growth, with 6,193 applications for new businesses filed.

“Part of our long-term regional strategy is a focus on small business,” he said. “Now more than ever, we need to lean into this trend and continue to drive support for all entrepreneurs in this community.

“This focus has inspired our vision for the new tech garden. No longer will we be only seeding company growth or targeting companies in the tech sector. When we open this innovation hub in the spring following a $32 million expansion project, we will be able to serve a new generation of entrepreneurs at all stages of the growth cycle and across a broad range of industries.”

Workforce Development

Growth and progress means the region also needs to be focused on talent, he added.

In the five counties of Central New York, businesses in the advanced manufacturing cluster employ roughly 15,000 people, with an average annual wage of $89,925. Half of those jobs are in production, office and administration roles, such as assemblers, software developers, first-line supervisors and managers. Forecasted demand for all jobs in these industries in Central New York is 1,213 in 2025.

According to a study by Oxford Economics, there is already a national shortage of technical workers across the entire advanced manufacturing sector, making finding that talent harder.

“In fact, 67,000 chip manufacturing jobs are at risk of going unfilled by 2030,” he said. “A plurality of missing workers are technicians.

“We heard that from our forecasters as well when asked about the most prominent hiring challenges they expect to experience in 2025. Seventy-eight percent cited the challenge of attracting and retaining the right people for the right positions. 57% say there is a limited labor force locally or too small a talent pool to find individuals with specialized skills. CenterState CEO has an important role to play as we look to increase access to new career paths for thousands of Central New Yorkers.”

Late last year, Micron named the Central New York Community Foundation as the lead intermediary to help steward the $65 million in federal dollars awarded by the Department of Commerce as part of Micron’s overall CHIPS Act incentive package. CenterState CEO and the Idaho Workforce Development Council have been named sub-intermediaries.

“These funds are designated solely for the implementation of Micron’s strategy to achieve workforce at scale as outlined in its recently released Community Impact Report. The plan is designed to prepare the future workforce with skills required to fulfill the organization’s labor needs,” he explained. “Strategies include inspiring K-12 students to pursue STEM programs, modernizing curriculum, increasing experiential learning, opening access to semiconductor careers and addressing workforce barriers such as childcare and transportation.”

In the role of sub-intermediary, CenterState CEO will work closely with Micron and local partners to inform strategy and identify workforce development programs that will prepare a diverse pool of talent for the construction and manufacturing jobs that will result from Micron’s expansion project.

The need for talent is also a driving force behind CenterState CEO’s work with New York state.

Through the ON-RAMP program will help connect New Yorkers from priority populations with careers in high growth industries like manufacturing and construction. New York state will fund a new network of workforce development centers, including a flagship location in Syracuse.

The Housing Crisis

“Uncovering and attracting talent is just one part of our needed approach.

We also need more housing. We can’t underestimate the impact our current housing shortage will have on our ability to attract and retain talent,” he said. “High costs for housing are already causing affordability challenges and budget strains for many Central New York households because we have not kept pace with current demand, let alone prepared for future growth. In fact, the median selling price for a home in Central New York in 2014 was about $120,000. Now it’s $201,000. That’s an increase of 68%. Rents have also climbed fast, with a 22% increase in median rents in Syracuse last year.

“We need to build houses, expedite permitting and make room for more density. Compared to October 2023, permits for all housing units went up by 35% and multifamily permits are up 102%. However, if estimates are correct and our need is on the magnitude of 2,000-2,500 units of housing per year with about 1,000 of those as new multifamily units permitted annually, then that 102% needs to be closer to 900%-1400%.”

“Not just housing but our basic infrastructure needs to expand and evolve too. Our airport is our gateway to the rest of the world. Right now, it is nearing completion on a $28.5 million project to add capacity and improve the passenger experience,” he continued. “But this is just a small first step. In all, growing passenger and cargo demand — as well as opportunities for Syracuse to lead the way in a new era of advanced air mobility — will require more than $1 billion in upgrades and additions at the airport.”

Excited and Optimistic

“When we look ahead at all there is to achieve, it’s important to remember that we got here, to this moment of growth and opportunity, because we worked together,” he said. “As we dig into the real and necessary work that is required of us to meet this moment fully, those same partnerships and more will be necessary.

“I have never been more excited or optimistic about the year ahead. I know I have said that a few times in past years, but what makes this moment different is that this is a belief that is shared by so many more people in this community.”

‘We look forward to seeing you at the March 6 annual meeting and working together to continue leading the way in Oswego County.’

Chamber of Commerce Presents Achievement Awards

We are thrilled to announce the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 annual meeting where, through this year’s theme, “Oswego County Leading the Way,” will spotlight how Oswego County is at the forefront of strategic initiatives with a regional impact.

Guest Columnist

community, in memory of Nancy Premo, CenterState CEO’s late vice president of human resources.

SARA BROADWELL, is the executive director at the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

We invite the community to join us on March 6 at noon at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in Oswego for this event, which promises to be an inspiring gathering of business and community leaders, celebrating the vital contributions of small, local and community-focused companies throughout Oswego County. We are proud to have Constellation as our presenting sponsor. We are honored to welcome Oswego County administrator Philip Church as our keynote speaker. As the chief administrative officer and budget officer for the county, Church manages a workforce of more than 1,000 and oversees a $266 million annual budget. His insights into policy and budgetary matters will undoubtedly provide valuable perspectives on our community’s future.

During the event, we will also recognize the outstanding achievements of our members and community leaders with the following awards:

• Small Business Award: celebrates small business owners who excel in customer and employee relations, achieve significant milestones, or make notable contributions to Oswego County.

• Impact Award: honors a nonprofit organization that demonstrates excellence and drives significant positive change in the community.

• Community Investor Award: acknowledges an individual or organization that has made substantial investments and commitments to improving Oswego County’s communities.

• Nancy L. Premo Woman of Distinction Award: celebrates a woman in business whose service has positively impacted the

I would also like to acknowledge Taylor Davis, who has recently been promoted to member engagement and operations manager. Her leadership and dedication have been pivotal in driving our community-facing initiatives forward. She has supported the growth of our events and ensured that our farmers’ markets operate at full capacity, serving as vibrant hubs for local commerce and community engagement. She has been instrumental in the expansion and success of Project Bloom, partnering with stakeholders to refresh and update our historic signs, ensuring they are ready to welcome visitors this spring. Her strategic approach and personable nature have led to a steady increase in membership, fostering a strong network of businesses that support and uplift one another. In addition to Taylor’s promotion, we are happy to announce that we have added capacity to our team with a new GOFCC coordinator, Ericka Taylor. Ericka will be working under Taylor to support our daily operations.

As we embark on the year ahead, our focus remains on building connections, fostering collaboration and retaining talent. We will continue to host “Network with Purpose,” a talent and attraction program in partnership with the Oswego County Workforce New York Career Center and Operation Oswego County, supported by local sponsors. This initiative provides new hires and recruits with opportunities to engage with industry and community leaders, showcasing Oswego County as an attractive place to work and live. We look forward to expanding this program regionally across Central New York with the support of CenterState CEO.

We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting and working together to continue leading the way in Oswego County.

WE CARE LIKE FAMILY

LIKE FAMILY

Life in balance.

We are growing and have exciting career opportunities in the health care industry.

To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for available positions.

We are growing and have exciting career opportunities in the health care industry.

A company philosophy that speaks to a continual process of individual and collective development to improve our well-being, quality of life and personal relationships.

Life in balance.

To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for available positions.

Our Mission.

Life in balance.

A company philosophy that speaks to a continual process of individual and collective development to improve our well-being, quality of life and personal relationships.

To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.

Our Vision.

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Our Mission.

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17 Sunrise Drive Oswego, NY 13126 315-342-4790 | www.morningstarcares.com

To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.

RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER

To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for available positions. 17 Sunrise Drive Oswego, NY 13126 315-342-4790 | www.morningstarcares.com

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To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use of technology, progressive service and being a strong community partner.

To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.

Our Vision.

Physical Therapists

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To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use of technology, progressive service and being a strong community partner.

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PROGRESS

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM KEY SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY

Stories by Stefan Yablonski

Banking

Cyber Security, Regulatory Compliance, Workforce Are Some of the Concerns for 2025

The banking industry has myriad challenges in 2025.

Some of those include a fragile economy, unpredictable interest rates and a burdensome regulatory environment.

A recent study shows that despite the uncertainties, 80% of surveyed bankers are optimistic about 2025. The study collected insights from more than 300 senior executives from community banks and credit unions nationwide.

Some of the highlights of the report include:

• Cost of funds top bank execs’ list of concerns for 2025.

• New member growth is the greatest concern for credit unions.

• In 2025, nearly 30% of banks and credit unions plan to implement generative AI tools for the first time. Pamela D. Caraccioli, president & CEO of Fulton Savings Bank, cites other concerns as well.

• Recruitment and retention of employees

That is a strategic focus of any business, but particularly since COVID in 2020 when a significant retraction of available workers in Central New York took place, Caraccioli said. Business and industry have stepped up efforts to recruit and just as important, to retain their workforce. “Fulton Savings Bank is continuously working to remain an employer of choice in Oswego County and this includes providing a great work culture, competitive wages and benefits and opportunities for growth including education. We strive to promote from within and this is a contributing factor to the longevity and stability of our workforce,” she added.

• Fraud and other threats to cyber security

This has escalated as new technology and third-party applications and vendors are pursued by the general public, according to Caraccioli. “Safeguarding our customer accounts is a

24/7 effort and Fulton Savings Bank is continually making investments in both technology and staff education, to ensure safety and security for our customers,” she said.

• Regulatory compliance

It has been a moving target for the financial services industry and while the agencies are mostly deemed independent, their leadership is certainly aligned with political forces at the top, she said. “This is true for both federal and state level agencies. On the federal level alone, we’ve had four administrations since the Dodd-Frank Act passed and each seem to have different policy goals, including examination and enforcement priorities,” Caraccioli said. “For Fulton Savings Bank, this uncertainty certainly impacts the need for ongoing education and training of our workforce. But in the end, I believe our goals are consistent with respect to consumer protection and fraud prevention.”

• Fluctuation in interest rates

“It affects us all and factors that primarily play into this include the inflation rate, labor market including unemployment and the housing market,” she said. “Global markets are also a factor, as we’ve seen more recently with trade disputes and global tensions. The underlying goals are promoting maximum employment while also promoting price stability — both of which affect us all including Fulton Savings Bank and other businesses as we make decisions about how many workers we need to employ and what investments we need to make to remain competitive.”

PROGRESS Nonprofits

Sector Faces Funding, Workforce Challenges

Nonprofits are more important than ever, especially in light of the recent freeze on federal aid under presi-

dent Trump, according to Sheila Dion, founder and director of Erin’s Angels of Central New York.

Many people have outdated views that limit nonprofits’ ability to create lasting impact, she said.

“I believe that nonprofits should be allowed to invest in growth, marketing and competitive salaries — just like businesses — so they can effectively solve big problems rather than just scrape by,” she added. “With Trump’s freeze on federal aid, many vulnerable communities will lose access to essential government support. This puts an even greater burden on nonprofits to step in and fill the gaps in food security, housing, education and healthcare.”

Without strong, well-funded nonprofits, countless individuals will be left without safety nets. Dion said.

“Nonprofits often see budget cuts and even the elimination of funds from state and federal budgets,” agreed Linda Eagan, founder of the Fulton Block Builders.

“Nonprofits in Oswego County are fortunate to have the support of the Richard Shineman Foundation. They often help start-ups, fill in when cuts take place and support critical issues, such as food insecurity.”

The challenges nonprofits face are mounting, according online sources:

• Funding restrictions and outdated perceptions — Donors often expect nonprofits to operate on minimal overhead, making it hard to invest in long-term sustainability.

• Increased demand and limited resources — With federal aid frozen, nonprofits will see more people in need while struggling with tight budgets.

• Burnout and workforce challenges

— Many nonprofit workers and volunteers, despite their passion, face exhaustion from being overworked and underpaid.

• Competitive fundraising — As more organizations fight for the same limited donor pool, raising money becomes even harder.

• Policy and political barriers — Changes in government policies create uncertainty and make it harder to plan for the future.

“Nonprofits are stepping up to meet needs that government policies ignore,” Dion continued. “But without proper support and a shift in mindset, they’ll continue to struggle.

“It’s time to embrace the message that investing in nonprofits isn’t charity; it’s the best way to create real change.

Sheila Dion started a food pantry and a group called Erin’s Angels, which works to make sure kids at local school districts have enough food. “It’s time to embrace the message that investing in nonprofits isn’t charity; it’s the best way to create real change,” she says.

Charity is often seen as a kind gesture — a donation here, a meal provided there. But what if I told you that giving to nonprofits isn’t just about temporary relief? It’s about building a future where that relief is no longer needed. When you invest in a nonprofit, you’re not just feeding a child today — you’re making sure they have the stability to thrive tomorrow. You’re not just providing shelter — you’re helping create pathways out of poverty. You’re not just funding a program — you’re fueling a movement.”

Too often, nonprofits are expected to work miracles on shoestring budgets, she said, adding, “But imagine what could happen if we gave them the same tools, investment and support that for-profit businesses receive. Imagine a world where we stop seeing nonprofits as charities that survive on scraps and instead as powerful drivers of change that deserve to grow, innovate and scale. The truth is solving big problems requires big investments. If we want to end hunger, break cycles of poverty and create real, lasting change — we have to stop seeing nonprofit funding as charity. It’s not a handout. It’s the most important investment we can make!”

There are major opportunities for nonprofits to evolve, grow and make an even greater impact, she said.

Nonprofits need to break free from outdated restrictions and educate donors on the importance of investing in infrastructure, marketing and staff, according to Dion.

“This is an opportunity to shift the conversation — encouraging funders to see overhead as an essential part of maximizing impact rather than something to minimize. Businesses are increasingly looking for ways to align with meaningful causes. By forming strategic partnerships, nonprofits can secure funding, in-kind donations and volunteer support while giving companies a way to demonstrate their social responsibility,” she said.

There is also a growing opportunity for nonprofits to engage in advocacy.

“By using their collective voices, they can push for policy changes that restore funding, expand social programs and create more sustainable solutions for long-term impact. This is a moment for nonprofits to step into leadership roles, influence business practices and reshape the way society views charitable work,” she said.

Farming

DHigher Wages Pose Challenges to Agribusinesses

avid Sorbello of Sorbello and Sons Farm said increase in wages among agriculture workers poses a challenge for local farmers.

“It’s difficult to keep pace with the inflated cost of living for employees and rising cost, especially for workers we get from the federal government’s H2A visa program,” he said. “Once these workers arrive and their pay rate is higher than it was last year, by law we are required to raise all workers pay rates the same percentage to match them.”

Also, New York state has one of the highest minimum wage rates of pay at $15 per hour whereas in 2024, some states pay at $5.15 per hour. Although, employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.”

Rane Sorbello added, “Recently, New York state started a phasing in of worker overtime pay — which hurts —because we have no choice but to automate to stay in business. A group of New York Farm Bureau members went to Albany to oppose the new overtime law, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The threshold will be reduced by four hours each year until it reaches 40 hours per week in 2032.”

“Heavily subsidized Canadian farmers can dump their crop every fall over the border into New York at a 31% discount due to the exchange rate. It would be great if there was an even playing field. But life isn’t fair is it?” Dylan Sorbello said.

Significant Industry

Agriculture is a significant part of Oswego County’s economy, according to Joshua Vrooman, agriculture community educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Mexico.

“The county’s multi-million-dollar agriculture industry creates jobs, tax revenue and investment in the community,” he said. “It also allows supporting industries like feed, fertilizer, equipment and other input dealerships to thrive.”

Oswego County is home to 612 farms, 1,038 producers and 86,167 acres of farmland, Vrooman added.

Agriculture is a $3.6 billion industry in the state. With nearly 31,000 farms, New York is a leading producer of numerous products, ranking first in cottage cheese, sour cream and yogurt, second in cabbage and maple syrup, third in apples and fifth in milk production.

County farms produce a wide variety of products — including field crops, honey, maple syrup, Christmas trees, vegetables, fruits, nuts and berries.

Dairy farms in Oswego County manage more than 4,000 dairy cows combined. They generate roughly $15.5 million annually from the sale of milk.

Livestock production is another important sector of agriculture in the county. Beef cattle, sheep, sows and feeder pigs, goats, elk, alpacas and poultry are all raised on Oswego County farms — their annual combined sales value is more than $3 million, the brochure added.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing Remains Strong in Oswego County

“Manufacturing is still strong, it’s one of our best industry clusters,” said Austin Wheelock, executive director of Operation Oswego County.

“It is a problem, but it is a good thing,” he added. “There are unfilled jobs. There is more demand than we have people. Some of our manufactures are now considering automation, robots, to try to fill some of these unfilled positions that have been out therefore a couple years.”

There is a strong need currently in the market for new space and there are programs at CiTi BOCES, Cayuga Community College and even SUNY Oswego and some of the school districts to try to help expand the pipeline of workforce, Wheelock noted.

Some of that is the anticipation of Micron coming.

“But I think that there is a need right now with our existing manufacturers in the region,” he said. “I think things are good there. We see a strong demand for both buildings and for people. If you don’t have sites, you’re not really open for business. That is why we want to get that industrial park project moving. Even once it starts, it still takes a couple years to get completed.”

He pointed to Daldrop — “that is related to industrial park’s expansion,” he said. “Projects like that are going on, taking up some of the existing space in the park. We need the room.”

“Manufacturing remains strong for EJ Made in USA access products used in the construction sector,” said Tim McKernan, facility manager.

EJ continues to invest in their people, facilities and equipment.

Real Estate

Low Inventory Means It’s Still a Seller’s Market

It’s still a seller’s market.

Home sales inched upwards in December despite housing inventory reaching its lowest point in recorded history, according to the housing report released Jan. 24 by the New York State Association of Realtors.

Existing-home sales rose 2.2% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million. That’s the

strongest pace since February 2024 (4.38 million), the association reported. Sales grew 9.3% from one year ago. It was the largest year-over-year gain since June 2021 (+23.0%).

“Overall, last year saw strong sales, but not to the level of the two previous years,” said Noelle Beckwith Salmonsen of Freedom Real Estate. “January is off to a slow start. Inventory remains low

They recently purchased a new robotic welding system which is dedicated to their various high-volume drainage grating.

“Staffing continues to be a struggle and is a problem across all sectors in our county,” McKernan said.

EJ remains active with the Oswego Workforce Development Board, CiTi P-TECH and all the local school districts working to develop our future workforce.

“We are thankful for all those in our community who work so hard to create opportunities for next generation of skilled workers,” he said.

Dan Phelan, CEO, HealthWay, cited the area’s workers.

“Oswego County is where we’ve found a great balance of skilled craftsmanship, community support and a strong manufacturing heritage,” Phelan said.

The region’s hardworking people and collaborative spirit have helped HealthWay thrive, while the area’s commitment to innovation and sustainability continues to shape its approach to building high-quality products, he added.

“Our success reflects the dedication of this community and the solid manufacturing foundation that defines upstate New York,” he said.

and most listings are staying on the market longer before selling than in the previous year.”

“Buyer demand is moderate, down right now from last year. I anticipate the market to trend up as the temperatures warm up and for spring to be a busy time for both sellers and buyers,” she added. “Now that the election is over I believe people will be ready to get back to business with a positive outlook.”

Active market

The real estate market is still active, with the year ending with more sales than 2023.

“However, there is still a lack of homes for sale in our area as well as the whole real estate market,” said Bill Galloway, of Century 21 Galloway Realty. “With the positive outlook with Micron and possibly a new nuclear plant planned for our area, this will be one of the hottest and most active real estate

markets in the country.”

Several key factors have contributed to the current state of the CNY real estate market:

Economic growth in Syracuse and the surrounding areas has kept the market active recently. It is attracting more people to the CNY area.

New housing construction hasn’t

kept up with the demand and there is a shortage of inventory. That has driven up prices, Galloway noted.

The median home sold price in Syracuse was $185,921 in January 2025. That is up 8.4% from last year and the median price per square foot was $128.

Experts anticipate modest price gains in 2025. For example, real estate

Tourism

Events, Festivals, Fishing, Snowmobiling: Region Offers Many Reasons for People to Visit

Tourism is alive and well in Oswego County, according to legislator Mary Ellen “Mel” Chesbro.

In fact, “it is bursting at the seams and growing in leaps and bounds!” the chairwoman of the Economic Development and Planning committee added. Oswego County’s tourism encompasses destinations for all four seasons. Whether it is salmon fishing in the spring, baseball tournaments and ATVs in the summer, hunting in the fall or snowmobiling in the winter and

multiple historical museums which are open all year, they entice thousands of tourists to choose Oswego County over and over again, she said.

“Tourism in our area is doing very well, especially when it comes to special events and youth sports,” said Chris Waldron, Fulton’s director of parks and recreation.

Events like The Great Eastern Whiteout, Big Truck Day, Fulton Downtown Market, Memorial Day Salute, JazzFest, Fulton Fall Festival and the

data provider CoreLogic predicts home prices will grow at a modest annual rate of 2.3% through September 2025.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased, averaging 6.89%,”Freddie Mac reported in early February. Mortgage rates were stable over the last month and incoming data suggested the economy remains on firm footing.

Christmas Tree Lighting regularly draw hundreds — sometimes thousands — of visitors, he said.

For example, at Big Truck Day, he met attendees from Watertown, Auburn, Buffalo, Scranton, Pennsylvania and Rochester.

“The Fulton Fall Festival had several thousand attendees and local business Mr. Mike’s Seafood saw significant success, selling out of food and was forced to close early due to overwhelming sales,” he said.

Chesbro agreed. “Tourism is an economic and environmental powerhouse for our county. Not only does it provide activities to draw tourists to visit, but it also provides important amenities for Oswego County residents to enjoy,” she added. “Tourism also provides opportunities for businesses to open and grow, as it raises awareness of the importance of protecting our environment.

“Oswego County is home to the historical Fort Ontario New York State Park (which is currently under consideration for a National Park status), as well as several other museums that boast of our rich history. But it is the future that is ringing the bell for potential tourists to visit our county right now, with the recent announcement that Oswego was chosen to be home to the 16th Marine Sanctuary, which means we now have a National Park akin to Yellowstone right here in Oswego County.”

“We work well with local nonprofits such as CNY Arts, Fulton Library and Catholic Charities to promote events coming up,” Waldron said. “Oswego County Tourism is also doing a great job promoting our events on social media. Our partnership with Fulton Speedway has been invaluable — we even promote it during the winter season through our iRacing program, which kicks off in February.”“In regards to tourism, our team has been working on increasing our marketing efforts over the last several months and into this year. We want the city residents to

Fishing remains one of the top tourism attractions in Oswego County.

PROGRESS

be well informed with what is being offered to them,” said Amy Murphy, director of economic development for the city of Oswego.

“Additionally, it’s a priority to make the major events as accessible as possible; so we’re working on plans for better parking and shuttle services.”

Oswego has become a destination for families, young people, retired individuals — so many demographics can find something to do in Oswego.

“We’re incredibly proud of what has been built. Now we intend to fill

these wonderful spaces with things to do,” she said. “This year, we’ll have the annual Independence Day celebration which includes the parade, block party and fireworks. Our summer concert series will continue on Thursday nights at Veterans’ Stage and Friday evenings at Market Street Square.”

In October, they’ll host the Creepy Crawl and in November the 38th annual tree lighting ceremony and fireworks.

“These events are just a small sampling of all that the city has to offer,” she said. “So many organizations

Watertown Airport Expands, to Add New Passenger Terminal

The new passenger terminal at the Watertown International Airport in the town of Hounsfield has reached an important construction milestone. In December one of the last steel beams was lifted into place.

A topping off ceremony is a longstanding construction tradition that celebrates the completion of a building’s structural phase by placing a significant beam into place — the final or tallest beam.

Jefferson County, as the owner and operator of the airport, contracted with McFarland-Johnson, Inc. (MJ) of Binghamton to complete planning, engineering design and construction administration for the new facility. MJ, and their project team including BCA Architects and Engineers of Watertown, have designed the new passenger terminal measuring approximately 25,000 square feet (and over double the size of the existing terminal) just to the west of

host events for the community and are supported by the city.”

PorchFest, PumpkinFest, the Garrett Dunsmoor Foundation Basketball Tournament, ProAm Fishing Tournament and the Reindeer Run are just a few.

The city assists with more than 50 events every year that use public property or need city services of some kind. It is an honor and privilege to be able to serve the local community.

Waiting area at one of the gates at the Watertown Internaional Airport in the town of Hounsfield. A new passenger terminal is presently scheduled to open to the public in September.

the existing building along the nearly completed new airport access road. The new terminal will incorporate features that have never previously been available at the airport.

An automated baggage belt will be constructed within the baggage claim to allow for incoming baggage to circulate through the space and for passengers to spread out as they await their baggage to arrive. A passenger boarding bridge (also known as a jet bridge) will be constructed connecting the new second floor waiting area directly to the aircraft.

Passengers will no longer be required to experience the elements while entering or exiting the aircraft and can comfortably walk through the climate-controlled bridge that will be constructed so that it can accommodate two aircraft parked at the terminal. The provision of escalators will also be incorporated to provide improved accessibility for travelers as they are entering and exiting the airport.

Construction of this project is in the first of two phases. The second phase is anticipated to include the construction of a connector between the new building and the existing terminal as well as improvements to the existing terminal to enable the operation of a restaurant.

The overall project is being funded through several grants received from New York state and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as grant matches provided by Jefferson County.

The new passenger terminal is presently scheduled to open to the public in September.

City of Oswego

Mayor Looks to Improve Infrastructure, Open New Police Station

he city of Oswego has seen a lot of improvements in recent years.

building.

T“In the last eight or nine years, we cut the ribbon on the Cahill Pier, invested over $2 million in Breitbeck Park, we opened up a dog park, a skate park — all those things were kind of sexy and exciting and made a big splash,” Mayor Robert Corradino said. “I don’t have too many things like that for 2025. I mean we got a lot on our agenda there’s no doubt about that — but it’s more infrastructure, dealing with culverts and sewer pipes and treatment plant upgrades.

But there are some exciting things going on, the mayor added.

“We have a new police station we’re planning on right now. We bought the old Shapiro automotive building. We’re in the design stage right now,” he said. “Estimates are around $10 million for that new police-community center facility.”

The original concept was a police/ fire station, but ultimately the mayor favored a police/community center project.

They will knock down the existing

“It’s going to be a beautiful one-story building and it will have entrances on the First Street side and Second Street side. That property is a full block wide,” he said.

The city wants to repair its deteriorating former recreation building, which was part of the complex that housed Holocaust refugees at Fort Ontario during World War II.

Mayor Rob Corradino requested to apply for a $1.5 million Restore New York grant to renovate the Anthony “Butch” Ponzi Recreation Building.

“So we are looking forward to doing something with that building,” he said. “If Fort Ontario Park becomes a national park, it will be a great boon the area’s tourism business. Having a national park in our community would be a great feather in our cap.”

He also cited the National Marine Sanctuary designation.

“We have a new committee forming to help create a museum and building that. I am doing my best to lobby for that particular structure to be in the city of Oswego,” he said noting that there are

four counties that are involved in the marine sanctuary — Oswego, Jefferson, Cayuga and St. Lawrence.

The Port City has got some infrastructure work it has to do, he added.

“A developer is looking to put in a micro brewery in an old railroad building between Second and Third on Utica Street,” he said. “It’s probably been sitting there decades vacant. So that will be great to see that put back into use. The former Old City Hall will be opening soon, too.”

Upgrades are being done at the high dam, which “will produce electricity and revenue for the city of Oswego,” he said. “We are going to be starting the LED street lighting project probably the first week of February. That’s going to save the city money. I’m sure people are going to be very happy once those lights are replaced.”

He is putting together his five-year capital improvement plan for the city.

“Again, most of it is infrastructure upgrades,” he said. “There are other things as well like upgrading the computer system, for instance.”

The city of Oswego bought the old Shapiro dealership building near the post office and will turn it into a police station/community center.

City of Fulton Mayor: Laying the Groundwork for the Future in Fulton

By Stefan Yablonski

There is a lot going on in the city of Fulton, according to Mayor Jim Rice.

“We appointed a new DRI advisory committee. We got the DRI moving along at a much faster pace. Some of the projects are getting started and completed this year,” he said. “Looking ahead on the DRI, I am optimistic that I think we will be able to get the library project out to bid and going.”

As far as some of the things that they did last year to lay the groundwork for this year, the mayor said the city passed 26 laws last year. “I think that’s a big accomplishment,” he added.

They passed an abandoned building code last year. “With that we onboarded a fire marshal to take over that program. We have around 50 vacant homes,” the mayor said. “The problem just went unaddressed for I don’t know how long. The vacant structure law was actually proposed, I believe, back in 2022 and just never went forward.

“The fire marshal is coming on

and we want to start addressing this significant problem. We are going to start attaching fines. Some of these buildings the taxes are current on them. So we aren’t too worried about having to grab them in foreclosure. With the taxes being current on them we need to start holding people’s feet to the fire and hopefully we can get these houses repurposed — as you know we are in a housing crisis.”

They also passed a new conservation code to clear up the neighborhoods from the litter and debris.

“We have a city attorney taking care of day-to-day business,” he said. “Along with that we got codes back up and running. We have a monthly codes court calendar now that takes violators to city codes court and enforce those laws. We’ve done a lot in the last year and want to keep moving forward this year. I think we have laid the groundwork for the year ahead.”

He likes to go out on weekends and do ‘ward walks.’

“We had some turnover in our code enforcement department this spring. We had two resignations. The person that stayed has become the bureau chief and we have hired two new code enforcement inspectors,” he said.

They do a team building event once a quarter for city staff. People working together might not always know each other, from different departments, he explained.

“Another thing that we’ve done is we’ve partnered with Oswego County Workforce to get free training for some of our employees at no cost to our taxpayers and no cost to the employees. In one scenario if someone wanted to move up to a different position they’d have to spend around $6,000 on their own for training. So this partnership gives people a chance to be able to move up without the financial burden,” he said. “I’m pretty proud of that. No cost to the taxpayers — I think that is pretty significant.”

There’s a lot of good stuff going on, Rice said.

“It’s stuff that people don’t necessarily see, but it helps the city. I think we’ve done a lot and we’re going to do more! We’ve done a lot of good things,” he added. “We hope that continues.”

They are continuing to try to market the Nestle site.

An old grant that was awarded in 2017 but for some reason it just sat there and nothing was happening with it, he said.

“So we are engaged now to hopefully get it going and get a phase two going trying to make the site you know more marketable,” he said. ”I think if something gets built there on the one corner that will help to get some development engaged in what’s left of the rest of the site.”

Fulton has got a problem and it’s bigger than a ‘city problem,’ the mayor said.

“It’s homelessness. I’ve engaged with Victory Transformation in Oswego about a project in an empty building. It was moving forward but the neighbors just pretty much said, ‘not in my back yard.’

“I’ve got a problem and I’m trying to fix it. So not being able to get something done about that is probably my biggest disappointment since I took office. But that doesn’t mean I am going to stop trying to fix the problem.”

Fulton officials continue to try to market the Nestle site.

Workshop Offered to Those Who Want to Start a Business

The Fast Track to Small Business Workshops can help those aspiring small business entrepreneurs get on the right track in starting their enterprises.

The 20-hour workshops, sponsored by the New York State Small Business Development Center, focus on a range of topics, including accounting-budget, business financing, business plan, business start-up-preplanning, legal issues, and marketing-sales ownership.

The sessions are led by professionals in their respective fields.

The workshops help navigate some of the challenges of starting up a small business.

The program encapsulates the basics, according to Robert Griffin, regional director of the North Central Small Business Development Center, which is part of the broader New York SBDC network.

“When they’ve gone through it, they come out on the other side having at least a pretty good foundational awareness of all of the major points about starting an operating business,” he said. “They are armed with more information than they had when they came in.”

They will be better prepared to have productive conversations with accountants, attorneys, and bankers, he explained. And it also helps some to determine if entrepreneurship is the right path for them, he added.

For those going through the Department of Labor self-employment assistance program or involved in various micro enterprise grants and loan programs, the Fast Track workshops count toward meeting their educational requirements, Griffin pointed out.

The workshops, offered every month except for December, are presented in a hybrid format, providing additional access. The next one will be held on March 4, 6 and 11 at 121 E. First St., Oswego. The cost is $125, and the registration deadline is March 2.

To register for the workshop, visit Northcentralsbdc.org/fast-track.html.

For more information on other workshops or entrepreneurship programs throughout the year, go to northcentralsbdc.org.

DRIVERS WANTED

Economy Tough for Mom-and-Pops

Labor shortages, higher minimum wage and inflation hikes challenge small businesses

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Need a few good people? You’re not alone.

John Zanewych, owner of Big John Sales in Oswego, struggles to find good salespeople.

“It’s always hard to find quality people,” he said. “It’s hard getting them to stay.”

His sales staff work on a commission basis. If they don’t make money right away, they tend to leave. “You’ve

got to be in it for the long haul.”

During the pandemic, his costs spiked for the heating equipment he sells. Though the costs have leveled out, “because of inflation, they’re not as low as they used to be,” Zanewych said.

Staffing woes have also challenged Jim Sollecito, lifetime senior NYS certified landscape professional and owner of Sollecito Landscaping Nursery, LLC in Syracuse.

Sollecito founded his business in Oswego 51 years ago. Physical laborers were pretty easy to find back then, he said. “Usually I would hire hungry-for-money summer college help, which is virtually non existent anymore. Blame it on COVID, or for many the helicopter parents who micro-manage and try to do everything to keep their kids from failing, including getting employment applications. Their kids

Truly A Family Practice

Together,

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They

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really don’t want to work, and if they start, they usually don’t last long. For those that do, the real minimum wage is at least $18 an hour, and even then it is sometimes not sufficient to entice interest from Gen Z.”

Sollecito maintains a solid core of employees, some of which has been with the company for more than 30 years, but he realizes that the physical labor is taxing. He has hired 15-year-olds to help with the “heavy lifting” in the garden center.

“The hope is that when they are 18, they are still with us and we can send some out on the crew for planting work,” Sollecito said.

He used to take fishing trips to Alaska but feels he no longer can leave the business for 10 days at a time.

Inflation also has affected the business and has allocation.

“So, we now buy far ahead of time and inventory the items so we have them when we need them,” Sollecito said.

Despite the challenges of the nursery and landscaping business, Sollecito, 70, plans to stick with it.

“I chose this career, and at age ‘sixty-ten’ am not about to change course now,” he added.

Labor difficulties also plague Janet Yuckel, owner of Done Right Cleaning, which serves Oswego, Onondaga, Oneida, and Madison counties.

“People think they’re worth more than they are,” Yuckel said. “I don’t think a 20-year-old is worth $25 an hour. If I start out someone at $17, I’ll go up to $20. I can’t get people for that. McDonald’s pays $15. I feel like they don’t want to work no matter what you give them. Or they don’t have daycare. That’s the other issue.”

She has had to turn away business because she can’t staff enough cleaners to complete the work available. Currently, she has three employees, one of whom she just hired. Before the pandemic, she had eight. The shortage has caused her to change her cleaning schedule with some clients, allowing more time between cleaning sessions.

“I don’t mind paying people well if they will work,” Yuckel said. “But I don’t want people who are here to just collect a paycheck and then I get complaints. The workers want more and more and more and it never ends. Some think they’ll work for a month

and get a dollar an hour raise.”

She has also struggled with reliability. Some employees call in the day before an appointment and expect Yuckel to plan to cover the lapse in work.

The absence of applications has prompted positive change at some businesses.

A lack of workers caused Beacon Hotel to shift to Beacon Office Space and Executive Suites. In 2022, the Oswego-based lodging transitioned from hotel lodging to long-term stays because they could not find staff after the pandemic.

“After COVID, it seemed like no one wanted to work,” said Julie Avery, general manager. “I couldn’t keep working as long as I was working. I was swamped. I couldn’t do it anymore.”

Many guests stay a month or more and clean up after themselves during their stay, although staff clean between guests. The pivot to a long-term stay model has helped keep vacancy low. Beacon is across the street from Oswego Hospital, a boon to medical personnel coming to the area for a long-term stay.

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By Steve Yablonski

The Storied History of SUNY Oswego Women’s Hockey

By Tom and Jerry Caraccioli

For Oswego State Lakers Women’s Hockey head coach Mark Digby, the lure of what attracts his players to campus is entirely different from what others may experience with the promise of a big NIL (name, image and likeness) deal from a bigger program.

Besides the first-class facilities of the Marano Center with its proximity to the middle of campus — a 5-10 minute walk from classroom or dorm to locker room — student-athletes get the best of both worlds. They can commit themselves academically and athletically without ever really having to leave campus.

“The big one we hear a lot from our players is about being on the lake and having a community like we have,” Digby said. “Oswego is a pretty unique and different place. You don’t get to Oswego by accident. This is a destination.”

For a lot of players, they had no idea what to expect from the Port City when they made their recruiting visits. Usually when players arrive, they get anywhere from four to 24 hours to experience what the community is all about and has to offer.

“Most of our recruits leave with their eyes a lot bigger than when they arrived,” Digby explained. “The comment we hear all the time is they thought the lake was an ocean. And you look at downtown and what’s happened there with the tourism and rejuvenation that has taken place.”

Oswego’s rejuvenated downtown has played a significant role in recruiting, according to Digby.

“It’s a huge part of the process especially when players come into town and do an overnight. Their families stay in town and realize even though this is a small town there is a lot to do. The downtown area has been completely revitalized with shops and restaurants. All of that is pretty attractive for most families.”

But it wasn’t always like that for the women’s hockey program at Oswego.

Long-time ESPN anchor, Seattle Kraken host and Oswego State alum Linda Cohn, is an early pioneer of the SUNY Oswego Women’s Hockey program. Before she left the shores of the Lake Ontario campus for future fame and notoriety in front of a television

camera, the 1981 graduate backstopped some of the first Oswego Women’s hockey club teams from 1977-81.

Those teams followed the 1972 Title IX legislation that “protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.” While equality was the goal for women’s athletics and it was slow-moving, the early years of Oswego women’s hockey was respected.

“We were always on the ice after the guys and I get that,” Cohn enthusiastically remembered. “They were a really good team. By the time the guys got off the ice it was almost 6 o’clock. But they were great. They really respected and acknowledged us. A lot of the guys would stay on after their practice. I would get on early and take shots from the guys, which I loved. That was really cool because they could’ve gone the other way on that, but they didn’t.”

The first year of play, 1974-75, the Oswego women’s team was a club sport. They played five sanctioned games and went the season without a win. The women’s team got better as they

Head Coach Mark Digby prepares his team for key matchups against Morrisville and Plattsburgh.

progressed through the “Me Decade” recording three winning seasons, a .500 season and one losing season heading into the 1980s.

Player participation and interest in women’s hockey at Oswego waned through the early 1980s and the program’s last season was in 1984-85. That year, under the guidance of Helen Glick, they ironically finished the season with a winning 7-6-1 record.

Twenty years later, with the announcement of the future construction of the Marano Center in 2004, came the relaunch of women’s hockey and rebirth of the program. Head Coach Diane Dillon was brought on staff during the 2005-06 school year and given the task of putting together a team in 10 months to start the 2006-07 season. Though it was a tall order, Dillon guided the women Lakers team through a 22-game season (7-12-3) and stayed behind the Oswego bench for the next 13 years. Her efforts built the foundation that set up Digby and his staff to be able to recruit today’s high-level student-athletes.

“Forty-something years ago when I played, the school knew that women’s hockey could be the start of something big, so let’s get it going,” Cohn said. “They understood and were ahead of their time with the growth. I can’t even think of any other SUNY schools who had women’s hockey back then. Kudos to the university. They put money into the program.”

Today’s team also connects back to the early days of Lakers hockey. Senior defender and Lake Placid native, Rylee Preston, is a relative to Laker royalty. Her cousin, Greg Preston, was the school’s second All-American player who helped lead the men’s team during his time in green and gold in the mid1970s.

Among other notable talents to the program include international players Tilly Pethrick and Simone Bednarik — by way of Connecticut and Chicago, respectively. Pethrick is originally from Australia and is a member of the Aussie Senior Women’s National Hockey Team. The 5’ 9” defender was named top de-

fender in last year’s Division 3, Group A World Championships. Following Pethrick in international play is potential future Olympian Bednarik, who competes internationally as a member of the Slovakian Senior Women’s National Hockey Team which has their sights set on a trip to Milan-Cortina in 2026.

“To look where we started to where we are now, we’re very fortunate with the resources we’ve been allocated,” Digby said. “Looking back at women’s sports in general, female athletes had some real hardships along the way. Fortunately, we’re at a place where — not only our campus but in society — the equity is far closer than what it was certainly back at the beginning of women’s hockey at Oswego. Our school is doing a great job of making sure our athletes are treated fair and given the resources they need to be successful — not just as an athlete but also to have a successful college experience.”

Cohn couldn’t agree more.

“It’s light years from then to now. The last 20 years have seen incredible

ESPN anchor, Seattle Kraken host and Oswego alum Linda Cohn (goalie) was one of the pioneer members of the Oswego State Women’s club hockey team from 1977-81.

Lake Placid native Rylee Preston’s cousin, Greg Preston, was Oswego’s second hockey All-American during his time with the men’s team in the mid-1970s.

Today’s

no matter what level, involves technological advancements that help coaches teach their players.

growth at Oswego State and women’s hockey. They knew all along and it’s just fantastic. Oswego now has the resources and rolls out the red carpet for prospective hockey players. The Marano Center is amazing. Oswego has become a destination for women’s hockey. It’s remarkable to see how far it has come.”

“Our goal is to continue taking steps forward,” Digby philosophically concluded. “Those steps don’t always need to be massive leaps because sometimes when you do that you miss a step or two and can stumble pretty good. We’ve tried to have gradual growth, year-over-year. Hopefully over time, that incremental growth becomes exponential growth.”

And since this is Oswego, hopefully that growth creates a snowball effect that will lead to future successes on and off the ice.

Tom and Jerry Caraccioli are freelance writers originally from Oswego, who have co-authored two books: “STRIKING SILVER: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team” and “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.”

Hockey at SUNY Oswego: From a Club to a Program

Team is ranked seventh in the Division III USCHO national polls

Nearly 50 years ago when women’s hockey was first played at Oswego State, it was a club. Today, with the team ranked seventh in the Division III USCHO national polls, vying for a SUNYAC Championship and trip to the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament for the first time, it has become a program.

The journey Oswego State women’s hockey has made from its humble beginning in the 1970s and early-1980s is personified with a story from one of the program’s pioneering players, ESPN anchor Linda Cohn, who recently talked about the early years. “I can remember coming back early from Thanksgiving and practicing that night,” Cohn reminisced. “There was a blizzard and we were

walking from the dorms to Romney Fieldhouse in our big boots, freezing our butts off.”

Though the possibility of walking to practice in a blizzard still exists today, that walk from the dorms to the Marano Campus Center is much shorter than Cohn’s half mile trek to Romney. The strides the women have made from those early years have been huge. This season, the 2024-25 team has been ranked as high as fifth, and consistently a Top 10 team in the country.

Cohn, along with her pioneering teammates, credits her alma mater for its foresight. “Oswego State put money into the women’s program and facilities. Kudos to the university. It’s amazing.”

game,

Defenseman Tilly Pethrick was named Top Defender in the 2023 Division 3, Group A World Championships as a member of the Australian Senior Women’s National Team.

Head Coach Mark Digby directs his junior forward Brittany Iversen in practice.

Hosted by David Brancaccio, “Marketplace Morning Report” keeps you informed with the latest news on the markets, money, jobs and innovation.

Marketplace programs raise the economic intelligence of the country through unorthodox stories, casual conversations and unexpected angles on the news.

Hear updates during “Morning Edition” each weekday at 6:51 and 8:51 a.m. Listen with the WRVO app, available for iPhone and Android devices.

wrvo.org

BEST BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTING/TAX SERVICES

A-Plus Tax Services. Offering 3 options: drop-off, pick-up & delivery (within 25 miles radius) or by appointment. 315-754-8491 or email us at sem81965@gmail. com. 6419 Coolican Road, Red Creek, NY 13142. Visitus online: a-plustaxservices.com.

AUTO SALES & SERVICE

Bellinger Auto Sales & Service — Third generation business. Used cars, towing, general auto repair & accessories, truck repair. Oil, lube & filter service. 2746 County Route 57 Fulton. Call 315-593-1332.

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE

Port City Car Care, 315-207-0500 www.portcitycarcare.com. Oil, lube, NYSI, alignments, tires, brakes, electrical, air conditioning, suspension, tune-ups & timing belts, complete car care. 20 Ohio St., Oswego.

CANNABIS OPPORTUNITY

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CUSTOM METAL FABRICATORS

Frigo Design — Specializing in custom parts, stainless steel countertops, showers, shower bases, backsplashes, shelving, powder coating & more. Residential & commercial. Highly skilled. 5860 McKinley Rd., Brewerton. 315-698-7650 or info@frigodesign.com.

DEMOLITION

Fisher Companies. Commercial and residential demolition. Great prices. Fully insured. Free estimates. 50 years of experience. Call Fisher Companies at 315652-3773 or visit www.johnfisherconstruction.com.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING

Offering residential-commercial-and industrial services. 3 Creamery Road, Oswego, NY 13126, www.scribaelectric.com, 315-342-7681.

EXCAVATING

Gilbert Excavating. Septic systems. Gravel & topsoil. Septic tank pumping. 685 County Route 3, Fulton, 13069. Call 593-2472.

GLASS REPAIR

Fulton Glass. Storefronts and Glass repair. Over 50 years serving Oswego County. FultonGlass.net 315593-7913.

KILN-DRIED HARDWOODS

Lakeshore Hardwoods. We stock kiln-dried cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, ash, oak, basswood, mahogany, cedar, figured woods, and exotics. Also, hardwood flooring, moldings, stair parts & woodworking supplies. 266 Manwaring Rd. Pulaski. 298-6407 or visit www. lakeshorehardwoods.com.

LEGAL SERVICES

Reed Law PLLC — Dedicated to helping families with their individualized Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Probate and Real Estate. Clear Legal Solutions, Impartial Compassionate Assistance & A Strong Helping Hand when you need it most. 218 Syracuse Ave., Oswego. 315-274-2040

LUMBER

Whites Lumber. Four locations to serve you. Pulaski :3707 State Route 13 (315-298-6575); Watertown: 231 N. Rutland St. (315-788-6200); Clayon: 945 James St. (315-686-1892); Gouverneur: 71 Depot St.., (315-287-1892).

MENTAL HEALTH

Fulton Family Psychiatry. Offering 100% Online Psychiatric Private Practice. We see both children & adults. We use medications in addition to vitamins & supplements for the treatment of mental illnesses in a holistic approach. Call (315)-887-1059 or visit us at FultonFamilyPsychiatry.org.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Murdock’s Bicycles & Sports. New Bikes, TREK, FUJI, SALSA, SURLY & KINK. We repair all brands of Bikes. Keen Footwear and Darn tough socks available.

PICTURE FRAMING

Picture Connection offers custom matting & framing for photos, posters, prints, oils and more. Shadow boxes, object framing, art print source. 169 W. 1st St., Oswego. 315-343-2908.

POOL COVER REPAIR

Trust the experts! Let us repair your in-ground pool cover. Free estimates. Everybody says “Call this guy”. Cortini Shoe Zipper canvas repair to tarps, boat covers, and awnings. 215 Cayuga St., Fulton, NY 315-5938914.

SAUSAGES

Garafolo’s Importing — ‘Famous for Our Sausages’ — Catering, custom cuts meats, cold beverages, fresh Italian bread. Come and check out our specialties. 155 E. Bridge St. Oswego. 315-343-0580 – http://www.garafolos.com.

SCRAP

Flood Drive Properties. WANTED: All Household Appliances. Washers, Dryers, Stoves, Cars and Trucks. Top dollar paid. 315-592-4251 180 Flood Drive Fulton NY 13069.

TRACTOR/LAWN EQUIPMENT SALES & SERVICE

RanMar Tractor Supply, sales and service of new and used tractors and farm equipment. 5219 US Rte 11 Pulaski. 315-298-5109.

TRAILER SALES & SERVICE

Brooks Trailers, Trailers, Parts & Service. Lawn care equipment, parts & service. UTVs & much more. Two locations: 7911 Rt 104, Oswego, and 240 Rt 104, Ontario. Financing available. Call 315-207-2047 for Oswego store & 585-265-1366 for Ontario store. www. brooksfactorydirecttrailers.com.

Want to be listed in our Best Business Directory? Fill out this form and send it, with payment, to: Oswego County Business Magazine, P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126 $169 for 1 year!

By Cheryl Baldwin

Oswego Y Celebrates 170 Years of Service

This milestone is more than a celebration

As we celebrate the Oswego YMCA’s 170th anniversary, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the role this incredible organization has played in shaping our community.

Since 1855, the Oswego YMCA has grown from a small, faith-based initiative into a cornerstone of connection, growth and transformation for thousands of individuals and families each year.

This milestone is more than a celebration of our history—it’s a testament to the power of community and the lives we’ve touched through our mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

From its early beginnings, the YMCA began with a simple yet profound vision: to provide a safe and welcoming space where young people could learn, grow and thrive.

Through time, we’ve stayed true to that mission while expanding to meet the needs of a changing world.

Today, the Oswego YMCA is a vibrant hub for people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether it’s through after-school care, summer camps, chronic disease education, senior wellness

programs, fitness or family services, we are here to uplift and empower our community.

What truly sets the Oswego YMCA apart is our unwavering commitment to inclusivity. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy, fulfilling life, regardless of their circumstances.

That’s why we are proud to offer scholarships and financial assistance, ensuring that no one is left out of the life-changing experiences the Y provides.

A Look Ahead

As we reflect on this extraordinary legacy, I am humbled by the resilience and dedication of the staff, volunteers, and members who have built the Oswe go YMCA into what it is today.

Their passion, hard work and com mitment to our mission are the driving force behind our success. Together, we’ve created more than a place to exercise or learn—we’ve built a com munity where everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

Looking to the future, we are filled

with excitement and hope. While the world around us evolves, the YMCA’s mission remains steadfast: to strengthen our community and improve the well-being of individuals, families and future generations.

The next chapter of the Oswego YMCA’s journey will continue to honor our rich traditions while embracing innovation and growth.

As we celebrate this momentous occasion, we look ahead with optimism and purpose. Together, we will ensure that the values of health and wellness, inclusion, and social responsibility remain at the heart of everything we do—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Here’s to 170 years of impact—and an even brighter future!

CHERYL BALDWIN is the chief executive officer at

the Oswego

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Our approach is built around three ideas - putting people first, making service simple, and providing an unmatched network. See for yourself why so many area employers trust us to care for their teams, and ultimately, their businesses.

Oswego County Business, #196: February- March 2025

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