Oswego County Business, #197: May-June 2025 by Oswego County Business Magazine

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FEATURES

52 REAL ESTATE

Real estate pros share their outlook for the sector | Home sales in 2024 were at lowest level in almost 30 years | New hot market in CNY: “For Sale” — that’s the sign you constantly see along Route 31 around Micron’s project

72 HEALTH

ConnextCare increases primary care, mental health and dental services | Oswego County’s health numbers are better but not by much | YMCAs now offer chronic disease management programs | How to deal with insurance when they deny a claim?

91 FINANCES

Tariffs: How they work and potential economic effects | Why life after work can be hard for high achievers | Should you invest in real estate investment trusts? | What should you do with your health savings account?

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Summer Guide — The Best of Upstate New York

Got a call from us ? If not, I hope you will very soon.

We’re now contacting businesses in the region to invite them to advertise in the 31st. edition of Summer Guide, The Best of Upstate New York.

This is our fun publication. For a minute or two we set aside issues like economic development, manufacturing, large employers, small business and things like that. We’re now concerned with finding the most interesting events in Upstate New York, the most exciting places to go, the best lakes to visit, concerts to attend and trails to hike.

We print and distribute over 40,000 copies of the guide. It’s a glossy, colorful publication with a slick design that’s distributed all over the region.

Last year, the Summer Guide had more than 100 pages, a record for us.

In general, advertising in the Summer Guide makes a great deal of sense — ad rates are relatively low, the design is free and the publication is available all season long. As we tell prospective advertisers, you advertise once, get results all season.

Advertising this time of the year is even more important given the fact that people are eager to go places, do things, be outdoors and enjoy themselves. It’s the time the region gets a big influx of visitors.

Sure, Facebook, Instagram and other online sources are fairly good venues to advertise. But the bottom line is, a hard copy of a nicely designed glossy magazine is hard to beat.

The guide has an estimated readership of over 250,000 readers and its website — www.cnysummer.com — usually gets about 10,000 unique visits per month during the summer months.

Local businesses have had good results from advertising in the publication — and we’re glad they do advertise. Many do so year after year.

Advertisers are the ones who fund the magazine and allow us to print and distribute the publication all over the region at no charge. They get the exposure from the print advertisement plus the exposure from the website. We upload a

copy of the guide to www.cnysummer. com and hyperlink all the ads. It means that as viewers skim through the online publication, they can click on any ad and go directly to the advertiser’s website. I love that feature.

One of the reasons the guide has remained popular over three decades —hard to believe we have published this for more than three decades — is that readers love it, and that drives businesses’ interest in advertising. Travelers — and locals — do pick up copies of the guide every time. We replenish our drop off locations two, sometimes three times a month.

If visitors are like me, the first thing they do is to grab some literature with local content, highlighting things to see and do. That still works really well in the digital era.

So, if you haven’t received a call from us, go ahead and call us. We will be happy to come up with some ad design that will get your message across to thousands and thousands of readers. It’s a good way to drum some extra business this time of the year.

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

Laurie Haelen, Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons, Aaron Gifford

ADVERTISING

Peggy Kain | p3ggyk@gmail.com

Rob Elia | roblocalnews@gmail.com

SECRETARY

Mary Trapasso-Ayers localnewsoffice@gmail.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN Angel Campos Toro

COVER PHOTO Chuck Wainwright

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 $6. PRSRT STD US Postage PAID, Pittsburgh, PA, Permit No. 5605

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

Last year’s Summer Guide.

ADVERTISING INDEX

31 Sheds ..................................30

6 Acres Farm Brewery 21

ALPS Professional Services .....32

Alzheimer’s Association, CNY Chapter 13

Ameriprise Financial (Randy Zeigler) 80

Armstrong Appraisals ...............33

Barclay Damon LLP 35

Best Copy Now .........................32

Bond, Schoeneck & King, Attorneys at Law 12

Brookfield Renewable Power 4

Builder’s FirstSource 28

Burke’s Home Center ...............30

C & S Companies 71

Canale’s Insurance & Accounting 30, 37

Century 21 - Galloway Realty ....4

Christy’s Motel 21

Colonial Financial Group 15

Compass Credit Union 55

ConnextCare 85

Cornell Cooperative Extension 37

Crouse Hospital ..........................2

Edward Jones (Rochelle Peabody) .............33

Elemental Management Group 89

Evergreen Hills Golf Course 20

Felix Schoeller North America 7

Fitzgibbons Agency ..................35

FlynnStoned Cannabis Company .............................21

Food Bank of CNY 99

Foster Funeral Home 87

Fulton Savings Bank 55

Fulton Taxi 61

Fulton Tool Co. .........................61

Gartner Equipment 13

Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce 95

Harborfest .................................21

Hearth Cabinets and More 31

Helio Health 87

Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY 47

Hospice of Central New York .107

Howard Hanna Real Estate 59

Johnston Gas ...........................32

JTS Remodeling 28

Diamond Roofing Company 31 E J USA ....................................41

Lamb’s Handyman Service.......32

Laser Transit 71

Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery 31

Law Office of Bernhard Molldrem 33

Longley Brothers 95

LW Emporium Co-Op ...............20

Menter Ambulance 87

Mimi’s Drive Inn ........................19

Mirabito Financial Group 37

Mr. Rooter Plumbing 31

Murdoch’s Bike 20

NBT Insurance Agency 29

Noble Electric ...........................32

NYS Office of Parks 99

Ontario Orchards ......................20

Operation Oswego County 107

Oswego County Federal Credit Union 40

Oswego County Mutual Insurance 26

Oswego County Promotion & Tourism Department ..........5

Oswego County Workforce New York — Career Center.........79

Oswego YMCA 79

Peter Realty .............................26

Plumley Engineering 59

Port of Oswego Authority............4

Richard Kim Medicine 81

RiverHouse Restaurant 19

Scriba Electric 32

Sip Back & Relax Tours, LLC 21 Speedway Press.......................61

St. Joseph’s Health 11

SUNY Oswego ...........................9

SUNY Upstate 108

Syracuse Orchestra 13

TDO 95

TMS Restoration Psychiatry 47

Torbitt Service Center...............33

Trimble Services 15

United Wire Technology ...........99

Universal Metal Works 61

Vashaw’s Collision....................40

Watertown International Airport 23

White’s Lumber & Building Supply 28

WRVO ....................................104

ON THE JOB

Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

What’s Your Biggest Business Challenge Right Now?

“Labor is challenging. Almost everyone in this type of business is discovering that it’s hard to find people who want to work.”

Cindy Paine Co-owner Oliver B. Paine Greenhouses, Fulton.

“I will be selling the business by the beginning of May. We have a buyer and have announced it on Facebook. My biggest challenge that affected selling has been keeping up with the cost of supplies. The changing inflation for the cost of supplies and payroll going up made it hard. Things just kept going up and up and up and it was getting harder for me. Also, I’ve been doing this for almost 15 years and it is time for me to be there for the family. Family is first. Family is very important to me. I want to be there to help them. My family is getting a little older and

needing assistance. I love what I do; it was a hard decision.”

Kathy Hotaling Owner Kathy’s Cakes & Big Dipper Ice Cream, Fulton.

“We’ve had a lot of the same challenges we’ve had in the past, including challenges with the pool of talent getting smaller. We have some of the finest craftspeople. As of right now, we look forward to a good year, but what might happen with pricing is scaring some of the consumers. Any time there’s volatility in the market the consumers are hesitant. Other than that, we’ve done well. State and federal regulations have been the same and there haven’t been many changes. That’s not so bad at the moment. We’ve been fortunate.”

Owner

David

Hill

Oswego Quality Carpet, Oswego.

“With the season transitioning, it’s difficult. When we have warm days, it’s a bike day; when we have cold days, it’s a snowshoe day. I wish there were some type of consistency in what we experience. I’m not experiencing any supply chain or tariff issues. I’m prepared and ready to respond to hopefully a bicycle demand when the weather gets more consistent.”

Greg Mills Owner, Murdock’s Bicycles and Sports, Oswego

“You mean after cash flow? I’m glad you asked! One of the biggest challenges is competing with our own vendors. One shoe company has an online platform for consumers with inventory that we cannot access. A customer will call and ask us to order a shoe, stating ‘They have my size on the website’ yet when we order it’s not available to us on the business-to-business platform. Secondly, the same company offers discounts online that we cannot take advantage of. That’s a challenge!”

Joe Cortini Owner, Cortini Shoe Store, Fulton.

“As a small business, finding sales folks who are willing to have a low base and high commission potential is harder and harder to find. It seems most people want a higher base and lower commission potential. It seems they are valuing the consistent salary more than the potential of higher earnings.”

Stephanie M. Vavonese Founder & CEO SMV Recruiting, LLC & Brew Recruit, Syracuse.

“Effective marketing using social media.”

Kevin Samolis Financial officer, SKY Armory, Syracuse.

“Currently, our biggest struggle is finding volunteer photojournalists or interns to support our mission of documenting all the amazing things happening in every corner of our county. Our core group is phenomenal and we are always looking for new talent to increase our coverage beyond Oswego and Fulton to include more happenings in the North Country, Central Square and Hannibal areas.”

Bekkah Frisch

Owner and president, I Heart Oswego.

“Getting qualified employees for our business. We’re a machine shop and unlike some of the modern shops that use computerized equipment, we use manual equipment. It’s a trade skill. The new kids coming up from school learn computerized equipment. It’s hard to get people who are qualified to use our equipment. We need people with the skills of manual machining of pulling levers and turning dials. It’s like working on a car, not working on a computer. We have people applying who can’t do what we do here. It’s an older age group that learned this stuff years ago. Not too many people know about it now.”

Chris Fragale

Manager,

Industrial Precision Products, Inc., Oswego.

“Regulatory laws regarding minimum wage, insurance and all that extra stuff that really makes having employees more challenging. That’s the real struggle, along with the increase in costs. It impacts us the most.”

Lisa Emmons Owner, Mother Earth Baby, Curious Kidz and Breezy Kleen Laundry, Oswego.

“Getting every sale we can. Our ongoing battle with Amazon has been a challenge basically since we opened. But we have a strong following here. There’s a lot of community members who’ve been supporting us since day one and would rather not shop with Amazon and other online retailers. There’s been a movement and shift in consciousness

whether people want to support these massive corporations and the local, independent businesses. Consumers are developing a better understanding of where their money goes. If you shop locally, the money stays local to a much higher degree than if you’re shopping at a big box store, where the money is sucked away from the local community. We haven’t really felt the heat of any of the tariffs yet.”

Emil Christmann Co-owner and manager of the rivers end bookstore, Oswego.

“While the current rate environment presents challenges, we see this as an opportunity to provide tailored solutions that ease the financial burden for our customers. We offer a variety of loan options designed to help reduce upfront costs and I personally sit down with customers to explore payment plans that fit their budget. I also guide them on when they may be eligible to refinance if rates decrease. For community members with questions or concerns, I provide reassurance by sharing historical trends and helping them understand their full financial picture. Additionally, we explore potential grants or loan programs through the county or city that could offer further assistance. Most importantly, our team at Community Bank is always here to support our customers with expert guidance, personalized service and a commitment to their financial wellbeing.”

Angela Cleary Branch manager, Community Bank, Oswego

“In order the Top 10 are: Labor ... and I forget the other nine. Because I am focused on labor.”

Jim Sollecito Owner, Sollecito Landscaping Nursery, Syracuse.

“The biggest challenge for Universal Metal Works is finding the right employees to expand our workforce. We are fortunate to currently have a great team, and we want to make sure that we continue to bring on employees who have the traits, skills and work ethic to add long-term value to the organization.”

John F. Sharkey, IV President Universal Metal Works, Fulton .

DINING OUT RESTAURANT GUIDE

LORBIRD

New Fulton Restaurant Brings Affordable, Classy Dining to Food Scene Modern American Kitchen and Bar

By Julie McMahon

The newly-opened LORBIRD Modern American Kitch en and Bar brings afford able yet upscale dining to Fulton’s food scene.

LORBIRD showcases interesting flavors and spice influences — the menu notes Creole, Vietnamese and other Asian influences — which makes for an interesting and unique menu. It’s a comfortable and creative place, where you can feel fine wearing jeans while dining on a sophisticated dish.

The dishes are nicer, but the menu heavily features chicken, making this an affordable joint, “where fowl is fab ulous” as the website notes.

LORBIRD is the latest venture of Laurie and Will O’Brien, owners of the Port City Café & Bakery and the Red Sun Fire Roasting Company, both in Oswego — and it lives up to the reputations of its sister restaurants.

The restaurant, which opens at 4 p.m., is a great spot for a happy hour. The white bar is backlit for a beautiful effect, and the bar features a good menu of drink options.

Seated in the dining room, we went for a Mass Riot IPA ($8), a local favorite from Prison City Brewing, and a sea breeze cocktail ($9) made of vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juices. The grapefruit came through nicely, and both were very refreshing drinks.

The chicken marsala ($26), made with the chicken leg and thigh, was rich and a bit fatty, tender and juicy, with well-cooked pieces of chicken on the bone.

We opted to start with the appetizer special, a tomato soup ($8) served with a micro grilled cheese sliced in half, as well as the potato croquettes ($12).

The soup was thick and hearty, not your watered-down canned soup, but more of a thick, homemade tomato puree, served hot but easy to wolf down. The grilled cheese was enough for two to split and was a delectable little treat with a nice char on the outside. The soup itself was served with slices of mozzarella and basil leaves, and made for a great start to the meal.

We also got the croquettes, pillows

of soft potato and sour cream and chives, with crispy outer texture, served with a mornay cheese sauce and bacon. This was delicious, a great combination of textures and flavors. The cheese added moisture and a smokiness. The dish was rather rich, a good sized serving for two people.

LORBIRD bills itself as casual, but has a classy décor. The joint follows a simple bird theme, with bird patterns on the upholstery of the benches and chairs, bird art on the walls and a large golden bird knickknack at the bar.

It feels like an elevated dining experience, with wooden tables and leather chairs, all-gold utensils, eclectic serving dishes and a nice atmosphere for a meal or a drink. The server was friendly and quick, checking on us frequently. There were attentive servers all around the dining room and bar.

The appetizers and entrees came out quickly, without much wait at all. In fact, the apps came out so quickly we hadn’t decided yet on our entrees. We finally made our choices, and went for the “Flew the Coop” burger ($19) and chicken marsala ($26).

The chicken marsala, made with the chicken leg and thigh, was rich and a bit fatty, tender and juicy, with well-cooked pieces of chicken on the bone. The

1 2

1: “Flew the Coop” burger ($19) was made coffee-rubbed, cooked to medium as we prefer, on a crispy bun, with a fatty bacon jam. It came with piping hot shoestring French fries, which were delicious.

2: Potato croquettes: The dish was rather rich, a good sized serving for two people.

3: Tomato soup ($8) served with a micro grilled cheese sliced in half: thick and hearty.

creamy marsala sauce was good, but we could have done with a bit more of this and mushrooms too. The mushrooms we got were good and tender, cooked to a nice sweetness in the sauce. The dish was served with parmesan polenta and fresh green beans, and when the juices from the chicken and marsala sauce all blended together with the polenta, it made for a really tasty bite and flavor. The green beans were really garlicky, some of the best green beans we’ve eaten at a restaurant.

The plate altogether made a great dish, and showed off the chicken that was highlighted on the menu.

The burger was made coffee-rubbed, cooked to medium as we prefer, on a crispy bun, with a fatty bacon jam. It came with piping hot shoestring French fries, which were delicious.

The dry rub wasn’t super apparent on the burger, nor was the lemon-cracked black pepper aioli, but the burger had a good flavor to it overall. A bit of arugula added a nice fresh element to each bite.

Both entrees were of good portion sizes, enough to fill you up but manageable to eat. With two appetizers and dessert we had just a little to take home.

For dessert, we couldn’t resist the lemon cheesecake. We got a very large slice. The cake itself had a light lemony flavor, but made for a thick decadent cheesecake, served with vanilla buttercream. It was great, but hard to finish.

When we were hit with the check, we were pleasantly surprised. For three courses and three drinks, the bill came to just less than $100 before tip.

Kudos to LORBIRD for bringing a

restaurant to Fulton that is both affordable and sophisticated, a nice addition to the Oswego County food scene.

HOW I GOT STARTED

By Stefan Yablonski

DAVID J. DEXTER

Owner

of Harbor Eye Associates has provided eye care in Oswego County for over 45 years.

“I

just put up a shingle and I waited for patients,” he says of his early beginnings

Optometrist David J. Dexter has been providing eye care for Oswego County families for more than 47

years with specializations in primary care, contact lenses and ocular disease. Known as Dr. Dexter, he is a fellow of

the American Academy of Optometry and serves on the board for the State University of New York College of Optometry. He also serves the United States Congress as a representative of the American Optometric Association.

In 1978, he graduated with honors from the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine in southern California.

After graduation from optometry school, he was extensively published for his work in the development of new gas permeable contact lens materials. He resides in Oswego.

Q: Where were you born and raised?

A: I was born in the Fulton area. My father got out of World War II and opened a medical practice in Fulton. My two sisters and I were raised in Fulton and went to Fulton schools.

Q: Where did you continue your education?

A: I went to St. Lawrence University and decided that optometry would be a really interesting venue. It’s similar to general medicine but not quite the same intensity in terms of night and day — in the old days your practice was right in your house. When I decided to go to optometry school, my father said ‘where are you going to go’ and I said ‘I’d go to the first school that accepts me,’ which happened to be Southern Cal. It was the No. 1 ranked school at the time; there were only 12 schools at that time.

Q: Do you remember your first office?

A: I knew I wanted to come back to the East Coast. I opened my practice in Oswego and at that time Oswego and Fulton was a long-distance phone call — in 1978. I opened a small office on Bridge Street with three rooms, right next to what was Gentile’s Camera Shop. Bart Paura and Bart Gentile became my adopted fathers because they owned the whole block. They would check on me every single morning to see how I was doing. They said they would help me get patients. They said they’d get billboards and walk the sidewalk to promote me.

Q: How hard was it to get started?

A: I’ll tell ya, it was not an easy thing because I just put up a shingle

and I waited for patients — just put up a shingle and waited. I started seeing a lot of children and that was a smart move because when you see a child then you end up seeing the older children and then you see the parents and then the grandparents and then the neighbors. Everything was based on referral. It took quite a while.

Q: You’ve moved around since then, right?

A: I was in that three-room office for a couple years. Then I moved into an office on Utica Street (that he shared with a dentist friend. They called the building “the eye tooth” building). I outgrew that and moved to the stone building on Third and Schuyler. My dad, who was still part-time medicine, he and I renovated that building and put some apartments in. We outgrew that and moved downtown where Riverwalk now is. For a little while I went over to the old city school district building on East First Street and then I moved over to where I am now, the old Pizza Hut.

Q: When did you open the Pulaski office?

A: That was in 1980.

Q: Did you have to invest a lot of money in equipment?

A: I would dare say that the technology that we have gotten to at this level — we’ve got probably close to a million dollars in equipment. The reimbursement from insurance hasn’t gone up, so we are operating on 20-year-old income with million dollar equipment. We are probably the best equipped office in Central New York. We never scrimped on anything for our patient care. We also have the best equipment because that is what our patients deserve.

Q: What services do you provide?

A: We offer comprehensive eye exams, advanced vision correction services, including a wide selection of eyeglass frames, lenses and contact lenses. We also provide co-managed care and consultation for retinal and cataract surgery, working alongside our experienced and highly regarded surgeon, Dr. Justin Dexter of Eye Surgeons of Central New York, for quality preoperative and postoperative services.

Q: So your son has followed in your footsteps?

A: Yes. My son, Justin, is in Syra-

cuse. He works indirectly with us. My oldest son, David II, is a vascular sur geon. You don’t want to see him unless you are really sick.

Q: How many patients do you normally see?

A: We see anywhere from 20 to 30 people a day. We do all the eye emergen cies. I’ve been on the hospital staff for I don’t know how many years, probably 20 years. I back up the emergency room as well as all the urgent care centers. We are on call 24/7.

Q: Does your wife do help at the office?

A: Yes, my wife [Lori Youngman] works with us and I just hired two new young doctors that will join us right out of school in Boston. We maybe will eventually turn it over to them. I say I am going to work until it is not fun anymore.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: I get to do nice things for nice people.

Q: The least enjoyable part?

A: Fighting with insurance companies is the least enjoyable. That’s got to be true for every health professional. That’s probably every health professional’s nightmare.

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

A: My father also built houses and I’ve built houses with both my kids. So I’d probably be a building developer like my dad.

Q: Do you have any hobbies?

A: Oh my God, yes. I love boating. I go boating all the time and I have a little horse barn. Years ago my wife and I wound up in a rodeo in Arizona and won. That’s one of our many claims to fame. We’ve done a lot of interesting things. It’s still fun.

Q: Any thoughts of slowing down or even retiring?

A: As I get older, my patients say ‘you aren’t going to retire are you?’ I say some day and they say ‘you can’t!’ I think about slowing down a little bit just so I have more time for personal things. I want to get the new doctors up to speed and of course introduce them to the community.

PROFILE By Stefan Yablonski

TAMMY THOMPSON

New president of Oswego Players wears many hats

All the world’s a stage — and Tammy Thompson isn’t done playing her part just yet.

The vice president in charge of administration for the Oswego Players in 2024 is now president of the local theater troupe.

“I am currently the president for Oswego Players, Oswego County Autism Task Force and Oswego County Youth Bureau. I am very involved with the Zonta Club of Oswego where I am a past president,” she said. “So yes, I am very busy.”

The Oswego Players, Inc. is one of the oldest continuously operating community theater organizations in the country.

“We have about 70 members. We are all volunteers,” she said.

Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she moved to Brookings, South Dakota in 1972 when she was 7.

“My parents Hugh and Gen Ackman were both educators and moved to Brookings for jobs. My dad was an elementary school principal and my mom held a number of administrative positions. She was head of the Title One programs for the district as well as a reading consultant and taught English as a second language,” she said. “My cousin, Randy, and I always talked about becoming vets. Only one of us actually became a vet and it wasn’t me.”

Thompson graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in communications with an emphasis on theater.

In 1986, she moved to Oswego. “That is another long story for another

day,” she said.

“My first job was at the college day care center where I worked for a year. I then was hired as a recreation specialist at ARC of Oswego County in 1987,” she said.

In 1989 she and her husband, Tim, moved to Hamburg in Western New York, where he attended school to become a dental lab technician. They moved back to Oswego in 1991 and he opened his own dental laboratory where he made dentures and orthodontic appliances.

“I was hired in November of 1991 through a contract with Oswego County ARC, but was housed at the Oswego County Health Department where I developed the early intervention program for the county. That was for children from birth through the age of 2. It was not a coordinated effort at the time. Early intervention became a mandated program in New York state, so my position became a county position in July of 1993 and we developed the program for the county,” she explained. “In 1999 I became the director of program for children with special needs for the county.”

Her husband is retired. Her oldest child, Shiloh, lives in Syracuse with their spouse Sage. They work for Advocates Inc as direct support professional. Another son, Adam, works at Novelis.

“We have two rescue dogs and a rescue cat. Our dogs are Munchkin and Luna and our cat is Cannoli. Munchkin is a Shih-Tzu that is about 10 pounds and Luna is about 25 pounds. She is a cross between a Chihuahua and other

mutts. All of our animals are rescues. The cat, Cannoli, and the little Shih-Tzu don’t like to admit it but they actually like each other. They like to sleep with each other.”

Retired but not slowing down

“I retired in 2024, just last year. Probably, now, I am busier than when I was working — if you ask my husband. If it doesn’t go on this calendar,” she said holding up her phone, “I don’t know where I am going. [The calendar on my phone] is the only thing that keeps me going in the right place.

“My favorite food is seafood. My hobby would be acting — that is my primary hobby. I really like Melissa McCarthy!” she added. “I do, now that I’m retired, I like to read books. I can’t do that when I am doing a show, it is too many words … too many words that I have got to memorize. I did take a part-time job at Bame’s just so I could stay social and it keeps me physical too.

She and her husband travel. They plan an annual trip every year.

“I do a lot of day trips,” she said. “The theater takes up a good portion of my time, especially now that I am president. The ramp outside, you saw how nice it was — no snow on it — that was a couple days of digging out (after the heavy snowstorms in February). I also have season tickets to Broadway in Syracuse.”

She said she tends to play the wacky characters.

“I am definitely an extrovert. The

SENIOR CITIZEN HOUSING

SIMEON DEWITT

150 E. 1st St. Oswego, NY 13126 315-343-0440

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100 Rochester St. Fulton, NY 13069 315-598-4700

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character I played in “A Murder is Announced,” the character actually dies in the show and I heard ‘oh, no’s’ during that scene.”

Martha in “Arsenic and Old Lace” is one of her favorite parts.

“Arsenic and Old Lace; it was fun to recreate that role. I had also played it in college. It was fun to bring that character back after all these years,” she said.

Going to retire or slow down?

“Nope,” she quickly replied. “It’s not in my MO. I’m not one to just sit around home, nope. If there isn’t anything on my calendar I am finding something, I am doing something. My husband retired about seven or eight years ago. He converted his lab into his man cave basically. He does graphic arts and stuff. So he has something that keeps him going. He is a homebody; we are definitely opposites. He is a homebody and I have got to be on the go. But every once in while he does go on the go with me.”

They have been married for 35 years.

“Our anniversary is coming up in November. We got married in Orchard Park — Buffalo Bills territory,” she said. “It was actually kind of a beautiful day the day that we got married. It wasn’t horribly cold, it really was quite nice.

“I never really thought about [what I’d like to stage here]. I’m interested in affording people that community theater experience, open and welcoming. Just trying to bring some happiness, a little entertainment in people’s lives.”

Oswego Players.

Founded in 1938, The Oswego Players, Inc., was formed by a group of Oswego residents interested in presenting theater productions in Oswego. The organization staged its productions in Robinson Auditorium in the old high school and other venues where a play could be staged.

In 1963 the group obtained a lease for Building No. 32 in the Fort Ontario Park complex that would ultimately house the Oswego Civic Arts Center.

On March 20, 1964, The Oswego Players was granted a Provisional Charter by the New York State Board of Regents for the purposes: “to advance cultural activities of the community through theatrical productions and through stimulating interest and participation in activities relating to the drama; to render assistance, advice and service, to other community organizations and

individuals in drama-oriented projects; and to sponsor an education program of children’s theater including periods of instruction for children and presentations by and for children.”

Over the years the Players continued to fulfill its charter obligations and on April 25, 1969, was granted an absolute charter by the Board of Regents.

Now operating out of the Frances Marion Brown Theater in the Civic Arts Center, they stage six major productions a year — all with volunteer participation and no paid staff. The theater seats 100 audience members in a warm and intimate setting.

The Players hold theater classes for youth in the area and each year awards two scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Oswego County pursuing higher education in the broad fields of theater and the fine arts.

The group is a founding member of the Theater Association of New York State and has been awarded its prestigious Mary Eva Duthie Award as the Most Outstanding Community Theater in the state.

Lifelines

Name: Tammy Thompson

Position: President of Oswego Players, Oswego County Autism Task Force and Oswego County Youth Bureau.

Birth Date: Feb. 21, 1964

Birth Place: Dubuque, Iowa

Residence: Oswego

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with an emphasis in theater, South Dakota State University

Affiliations: Past president of Zonta Club of Oswego, chairwoman of the Leadership Oswego County Advisory Council

Personal: Married to Tim Thompson; children Shiloh Roden and Adam Thompson

Hobbies: Reading, acting and all things theater, walking, traveling and anything to do with a body of water.

NEWS BRIEFS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUSINESS PEOPLE, PROFESSIONALS NEWSMAKERS

SUNY Oswego Appoints Deputy to the President for Planning

Murat Yaşar was recently appoint

ed SUNY Oswego’s new deputy to the president for strategy, planning and special projects, university President Peter O. Nwosu announced in February.

“A distinguished scholar and leader in higher education, Dr. Yaşar brings to the role a wealth of experience, a visionary approach, and a strong commitment to student success and academic excellence,” President Nwosu said. “His long-standing dedication to SUNY Oswego, along with his significant contributions to the campus community, makes him an ideal choice for this key position.”

Yaşar succeeds Mary Toale, who served in this role before joining SUNY Geneseo as provost last spring.

“In this new role, my top priority is to lead the implementation of our new strategic plan and, in doing so, operationalize Vision 4040, which will benefit every member of our institution, Oswego County and our broader region,” Yaşar said. “The strategic plan resulted from a collaborative campus process involving year-long efforts, including committee meetings, town halls, and brainstorming sessions by the members of SUNY Oswego’s faculty, staff, and administration.”

Yaşar joined SUNY Oswego in 2013 as a history faculty member. He has since excelled in a variety of academic and administrative roles, most recently as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). As associate dean, he supported the success of nearly 3,000 students annually and oversaw the reporting and faculty-support needs of more than 45 programs. He

also served for two years as interim chairman of the human development department.

Yaşar is known as a respected scholar of Ottoman and Eurasian history, with research published in peer-reviewed journals and books, including a recent bestseller “The North Caucasus Borderland Between Muscovy and the Ottoman Empire, 1555-1605.” His numerous accolades range from the Peterson Literary Fund Grand Prix for Excellence in Translation to serving as an Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador.

Yaşar earned his Ph.D. in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations from the University of Toronto and advanced degrees in international relations and history from Bilkent University and Middle East Technical University.

AmeriCU Appoints New Community Relations Manager

AmeriCU Credit Union appointed

Vanessa Szwejbka

Vanessa Szwejbka the new community relations manager and executive director of the AmeriCU Charitable Foundation. In this role, she will lead AmeriCU’s community engagement initiatives and oversee the foundation’s efforts to make a meaningful impact.

Szwejbka brings a strong background in communications, public engagement and community service. She spent 15 years in broadcasting as a meteorologist across Central New York, the North Country and the Southern Tier before transitioning to community relations, most recently working with the Downtown Committee of Syracuse to highlight local businesses and events.

Committed to community service, she and her husband actively support

several organizations, including Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter, AURORA of Central New York, and Friends of Fillmore, often emceeing events to raise awareness for these causes.

As the executive director of the AmeriCU Charitable Foundation, she will focus on expanding the foundation’s reach and strengthening partnerships with local organizations. “What’s important to our members is important to AmeriCU,” Vanessa added. “I look forward to building relationships with organizations across the communities we serve and finding opportunities to give back and have a meaningful impact for years to come.”

Szwejbka holds a Bachelor of Science in meteorology from SUNY Oswego. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring New York state parks with her husband and their two rescue dogs, Tank and Rocket.

Ryan Delao Appointed Treasurer of FOCUS

Greater Syracuse

Dannible & McKee, LLP, a Syra

Ryan R. Delao cuse-based certified public accounting and consulting firm, announced that Ryan R. Delao, CPA, has been appointed to the FOCUS Greater Syracuse board of directors as treasurer.

FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering civic engagement, public participation and community education throughout Central New York. Through its various programs and initiatives, FOCUS effectively connects residents with local government, organizations and businesses to drive meaningful, positive change in the region.

As an audit manager at Dannible & McKee, Delao brings a strong back-

Murat Yaşar

Home & BUSINESS

ground in financial analysis, risk assessment, and strategic planning, which will be invaluable in his role as treasurer. His experience spans assurance and consulting services for a diverse range of clients, specializing in the construction, architectural, engineering and manufacturing industries. Additionally, Delao’s experience with employee benefit plan audits and financial statement preparation equips him with the skills to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency.

“We are incredibly proud of Ryan’s appointment to the F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse board,” said Christopher Didio, managing partner at the firm. “His expertise and dedication to financial excellence will be a tremendous asset to the organization and the broader community.”

Delao graduated from Le Moyne College with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Master of Science in information systems, and resides in Syracuse.

Five Accountants Join Dannible & McKee

Dannible & McKee, LLP, a Syracuse-based certified public accounting and consulting firm, announced the addition of five new staff accountants in the first quarter of 2025 to further enhance its capacity to deliver services to its expanding client base.

• Michael Davis joined the firm as an audit staff accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh and a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Oswego. He lives in Syracuse and is based in the Syracuse office.

• Christine Gorgen joined the firm as a part-time staff accountant. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting from Sienna College. She is based in the Schenectady office and resides in Charlton.

• Julia Griffin joined the firm as an accounting and advisory services staff accountant. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and textual studies. Griffin is currently pursuing an Associate of Science degree in business administration and plans to continue her education in accounting and business management. She lives in Liverpool and works out of the Syracuse office.

• Julianna Mushalla joined the firm as a part-time staff accountant.

She graduated summa cum laude from the SUNY Broome Community College with an associate degree in business administration, followed by a Bachelor of Science in accounting (cum laude) and Master of Science in accounting (summa cum laude) from SUNY Binghamton. Mushalla is based in the Schenectady office and resides in Malta.

• Griffin Sciortino joined the firm as an audit staff accountant. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting and magna cum laude with a Master of Business Administration in professional accountancy. He lives in Whitesboro and is based in the Syracuse office.

Oswego Health Medical Practice Has New Executive Director

Nikki Kushner has joined Oswego

Health Medical Practice as its executive director. With a robust background in group practice leadership and a wealth of experience in physician management, hospital operations and strategic growth, Kushner is poised to make a significant impact on the organization’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality care to the community.

Kushner joins Oswego Health Medical Practice from Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, bringing over a decade of experience in healthcare leadership. Most recently, she served as chief operating officer at Hunterdon Medical Group, Hunterdon Health in Flemington, New Jersey. In this role, she led all aspects of the health system’s physician practice operations, ensuring seamless integration and enhanced company performance. Her work focused on optimizing operational workflows, improving patient care processes, and advancing financial outcomes.

Prior to her time at Hunterdon Medical Group, Kushner held multiple leadership roles, including president at Conemaugh Physician Group and chief operating officer at Conemaugh Health System in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

NikkiKushner

Home & BUSINESS

ROUTE 3, FULTON, NY 13069

During her tenure at Conemaugh, Kushner was responsible for overseeing a multi-specialty physician group with over 230 providers across more than 40 locations. In this capacity, she drove key strategic initiatives such as physician recruitment, compensation restructuring, and operational improvements. Her efforts in these areas led to significant growth in revenue, enhanced operational efficiency, and improved physician satisfaction.

Kushner’s experience in physician compensation, financial analysis and revenue cycle management has been a hallmark of her career. She has a proven ability to streamline processes, increase revenue, and manage complex budgets, all while building positive relationships with both physicians and staff. Her commitment to fostering collaboration and performance improvements has earned her the respect and trust of those she works with.

A graduate of Saint Francis College, Kushner holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting with a concentration in management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Lynn Bullard Recognized for Community Service

Lynn Bullard, program director for

Lynn Bullard

All Saints Episcopal Church’s Tuesday Night Dinners in Fulton, received the Robert J. Uplinger Award at the Fulton Lions Club’s April 3 board meeting. The club also donated $1,000 to the Tuesday Night Dinners program.

Established in 1993, the Uplinger award honors outstanding Lions, non-Lions and organizations that perform exemplary service to the club, district or community, said David Guyer, club president. “We are honoring Lynn for possessing the highest examples of Lionistic character, ideals, purpose and service. She has demonstrated that through her leadership over the past 16 years as the director of the Tuesday Night Meals Program. This is the first time since our club was founded in 1953

that we have presented an Uplinger award to a non-Lion in our community.”

The Tuesday Night Dinners program offers free, take-out dinners to anyone who is in need every Tuesday, from 5 to 6 p.m. Bullard said that the program has served more than 200 diners on some Tuesdays since it began in 2009. Fulton Lions Club members regularly volunteer to assist at these dinners as part of their community service.

Orthopedic Specialist

Joins Oswego Health

Raman Dhawan, a board-certified

orthopedic and spine surgeon, has recently joined Oswego Health’s Center for Orthopedic Care. With a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to providing exceptional local care, Dhawan will play a key role in enhancing the orthopedic services available to the community.

Dhawan brings over 18 years of experience in orthopedic surgery. After completing his orthopedic residency at Upstate Medical University from 1999 to 2004, he pursued a spine fellowship at University of California San Diego (2004-2005), where he honed his expertise in advanced spine care.

Prior to joining Oswego Health Medical Practice, Dhawan was a respected orthopedic surgeon at Crouse Hospital, where he served from 2007 until recently. Additionally, he has worked at Geneva General Hospital since 2008 and Community Memorial Hospital from 2005 to 2007.

Oswego Health Medical Practice continues to expand its orthopedic team to provide high-quality, accessible care to patients in Central New York. The Center for Orthopedic Care offers a wide range of services, from joint replacement to sports medicine care, helping patients return to their daily activities with enhanced mobility and less pain.

Raman Dhawan

Member SIPC

BUSINESS UPDATE

Century Old Phoenix Funeral Home to Close

The

building

will be sold. The business will

continue

at the Falardeau Funeral Home in Baldwinsville

By Stefan Yablonski

Allanson Glanville Tappan Funeral Home, founded more than 100 years ago in Phoenix is changing ownership.

The family-owned business is run by Doug Tappan, the third generation owner.

He said he has entered into a cash asset buyout arrangement with Albert Clos, owner of the Falardeau Funeral Home in Baldwinsville.

“I had a woman who was going to take over, a licensed lady. However she said she was going to take a job in

Binghamton,” Tappan said.

“I haven’t had anything really substantial,” he added. “We are doing all cremations for the most part and most of the time we haven’t used the funeral home. When you start losing your charges for use of the home — upkeep and utilities — you’re working for nothing.”

He said he had two people who had inquired about the business, but it was years ago. When he checked up on them, “they were not in that mode again.”

A little history

Because he had some family history with the Falardeau Funeral Home in Baldwinsville, he and Clos made a deal.

“The Falardeau family… Mary, works with us part-time, her grandfather originally was business partners with Doug’s grandfather,” said Clos.

“We want to give continuity to the families that have pre-planned services,” he explained. “Doug has a large number of families that have prearranged services there and rather than just letting the name die out we came to this idea to let things continue.

“It’s just the name and the contact information stuff like that will be transferred over. The business will continue to run as Allanson-Glanville-Tappan Funeral Home. It will be run out of our location in Baldwinsville. It will be two separate businesses under one roof.”

“We do 50 or 60 death calls a year, but if you start reducing everything to a direct cremation and I’ve had some they didn’t even want an obituary on the website — there just isn’t enough revenue to really do anything,” Tappan said. “So it becomes worth less than maybe it did 15 years ago.

“I just figured I guess it was time. I’m turning 72 at the end of March and I’m going to be a grandpa now. I’m excited about that.

I’m healthy — if I didn’t do it now – who knows, you know?”

“I got my funeral director’s license at age 20,” Clos said. “I worked in providing support services to other funeral homes for a number of years until the opportunity to purchase in Baldwinsville came up. I bought this about four and a half years ago.”

Clos said he and Tappan “signed an agreement the other day to kind of get things moving with the state. So I guess it just depends on how long it takes the state to process paperwork. Probably in a couple weeks or so.”

Tappan said the funeral home building at 431 Main St. will be sold separately.

“I’ll sell the building. It’s two separate entities. The house was one and the business was the other — the funeral home is downstairs,” Tappan said. “There won’t be anything in the village here. But, like I say, we don’t use the building much anymore. It’s going to several months to clean things out and finish up what we have to do — equipment and merchandise that sort of thing, inventory it and hopefully sell it.”

Doug Tappan is the third generation owner of Allanson Glanville Tappan Funeral Home.

Owner of Kris-Tech Wire to Be Inducted in MACNY Wall of Fame

Graham Brodock, president of Kris-

Graham Brodock Tech Wire in Rome, has been selected by MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, as its 2025 Manufacturers Wall of Fame inductee.

Brodock is being recognized for his visionary leadership and transformative impact at Kris-Tech Wire, where he has served as president since 2014.

Founded on strong family values, Kris-Tech is a third-generation business that has grown into an industry leader while maintaining its commitment to integrity, craftsmanship and customer service. Under his guidance, Kris-Tech has evolved from a small regional wire mill to a nationally recognized manufacturer. Brodock’s approach to leadership, which blends culture, employee wellness and cutting-edge manufacturing practices, has propelled the company into a new era of growth and success.

Brodock’s journey to leadership in manufacturing is unique. With no formal background in manufacturing or business, he studied art history as an undergraduate and went on to earn a master’s degree in ancient Greek and Latin from Cambridge University. He later taught high school Latin in Austin, Texas, before pivoting to the manufacturing industry by joining Kris-Tech Wire. His liberal arts education and diverse experiences have shaped his distinctive leadership style, emphasizing respect, personal growth, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Under Brodock’s leadership, KrisTech has fostered a culture built on trust, self-discipline and empowerment. By creating an environment where employees are encouraged to take ownership of their roles and contribute ideas for improvement, Brodock has cultivated a thriving culture of teamwork, cross-departmental collaboration, and ongoing professional development.

Graham will be honored by MACNY members and community leaders at MACNY’s 112th Annual Celebration of Manufacturing on May 22, at the SRC Arena & Events Center in Syracuse.

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No matter your need—big or small—our highly skilled attorneys team across practices to provide customized, targeted solutions informed by deep industry understanding.

Barclay Damon’s

After nearly 15 years of serving clients at Pathfinder Bank in the investment services department, financial adviser Craig Fitzpatrick recently announced the launch of Fitzpatrick Financial, a full-service investment firm. This transition marks a significant milestone in Fitzpatrick’s career, reinforcing his commitment to offering clients an experience built on trust, integrity and a deep understanding of their individual financial goals.

“Starting Fitzpatrick Financial has been a dream of mine for many years,” he said. “I’ve always aimed to be the adviser who truly understands and cares about each client, and this new chapter will allow me to better serve that mission. By forming my own firm, I’m more committed than ever to offering honest, personalized and dedicated service to everyone I work with.”

As part of this transition, Fitzpatrick will be joined by his trusted assistant of many years, Ginger Lyons, who will continue to provide outstanding service and support to enhance the client experience. The new firm will offer even more personalized services, with a stronger focus on addressing each client’s unique needs and long-term financial goals.

“We are deeply rooted in this community,” said Fitzpatrick. “This is where we grew up, where our families live, and where we stay actively involved. We’re proud to call this place home, and we’re excited to continue supporting the people in our community, by helping them achieve their financial goals.”

Lyons, office operations manager at Fitzpatrick Financial, added, “Our close relationships with clients will remain unchanged. We’re committed to making sure clients feel valued and supported every step of the way. This new venture will allow us to provide even more individualized attention, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

Financial Adviser Launches Own Business in Fulton

Fitzpatrick Financial is committed to being the trusted financial partner for clients at every stage of life. The firm’s mission is to understand the unique needs of each client and create a strategic plan for their financial success and future. Fitzpatrick said he believes in fostering long-term relationships built on trust and understanding, not just managing portfolios.

Fitzpatrick Financial is located at 201 S. Second St. in Fulton. For more information or to get in touch with Fitzpatrick Financial, please contact them directly at 315-887-1019.

Financial adviser Craig Fitzpatrick is the owner of newly-launched Fitzpatrick Financial in Fulton; Ginger Lyons is the business’ office operations manager.

BUSINESS UPDATE

and meet members of the Oswego team.

SUNY Oswego’s Online MBA Continues Top Ranking

SUNY Oswego remains the top online MBA program among public schools in New York state, according to rankings released Jan. 21 by U.S. News and World Report.

The U.S. News: Best Online Programs ranking joins the same designation as the top public-school online MBA in the state from Poets & Quants, Fortune and the Princeton Review.

U.S. News ranked SUNY Oswego No. 88 among all online MBA programs in a process that assessed approximately 1,780 online degree programs across various lists and metrics.

The rankings measure overall academic quality at the baccalaureate and master’s levels across disciplines such as master’s in business (MBA and non-MBA programs), criminal justice, education, engineering, information technology and nursing, U.S. News explained.

“We’re still a top-ranked school with rising enrollment, customized advisement and individual support, and we take great pride in providing outstanding service,” said Irene

Scruton, assistant dean of the School of Business and director of Oswego’s MBA programs. “That our student excellence and student engagement scores remain at high levels even with increased enrollment shows how much we emphasize the student experience.”

“Our enrollment growth and the recognition of being one of the top 100 online MBA programs in the country is due to the uniquely flexible curriculum that is delivered by faculty members who regularly win awards for teaching and research,” said Prabakar Kothandaraman, dean of Oswego’s School of Business.

“Our MBA team understands the demands of working executives and life-long learners and provide a very supportive environment that is both inclusive and enabling,” he added. “Our high-quality student engagement practices provide a strong bond between the faculty, students and the campus. Our continuous improvement mindset keeps us reaching for newer ways to serve our students to excel in their respective fields of business.”

Irene Scruton, assistant dean of the SUNY Oswego School of Business and director of Oswego’s MBA programs, congratulates December 2024 online MBA graduate Jane Nwagu, the group head of business development for FBN Insurance Brokers in Lagos, Nigeria. Nwagu completed the program successfully online and traveled to Oswego to attend Commencement

CARACCIOLI BROTHERS

Tom and Jerry Launch New Book on Hockey

Book is designed for young hockey players and those who want to learn more about hockey legends

The Caraccioli brothers, Jerry (left) and Tom just published their third book, “Ice Breakers,” which celebrates the history of hockey.

While our readers have gotten used to seeing their stories populate the Oswego County Business Magazine in the last two years, Tom and Jerry Caraccioli also have been busy writing their third book — “Ice Breakers” — that celebrates the history of hockey. It is on sale now by pre-order at The River’s End Bookstore and Amazon.com.

OCBM took a few minutes to discuss how they started their book writing journey, as well as how they went from writing two historical nonfiction, Olympic-themed books — “Striking Silver: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team” and “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” — to a book geared toward young hockey players.

ICE BREAKERS

A KIDS ’ GUIDE TO

Hockey

AND THE Greatest Players WHO CHANGED THE GAME

Q: How did writing books evolve in your lives?

A.: Writing a book together had always been a goal of ours. Ask any of our friends and they will tell you we’re prone to tell a good, long-winded story or two. We have also always liked to write, while also being very interested in history. We have had the great fortune of mining some really poignant stories, as well as the discipline to sit down and put them to paper — or on a computer these days. It became a natural progression in combining our interests and storytelling.

Q: Is it safe to say that Oswego and your upbringing here in the Port City has played a role in the way you craft your storytelling?

A: Without a doubt. Our friends and family have most definitely shaped the way we write and tell a story. This book is dedicated to our brother Kevin, and some of our closest friends, many who we grew up with playing hockey in the streets and rinks of Oswego. Not all, but many of those friends still live here. In everything we do, we want our family and friends to know they all are a part of what we are doing. That is why we like to mention them and Oswego as much as we can in our books and whatever else we are writing.

New book is available for pre-sale now and will be in book stores starting June 3.

Q: Your first two books are historical, Olympic-themed books that also wade into politics. How did you make the transition from those types of stories to a book geared more toward younger, hockey-playing boys and girls?

A: We were approached by a publisher who asked if we would be interested in writing a kids’ book about hockey. Some of the first books we ever read from first page to last were about the legends of hockey — Gordie Howe, Howie Morenz, Terry Sawchuk. So we were very excited to be able to not only pay homage to them again in this book as legends of the first part of the 20th century, but also to write about legends in the second half of the century including Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Bobby Clarke, Mike Bossy, Mark Messier, Martin Brodeur, as well as today’s great players Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Bedard and others.

Q: Though, you didn’t stray too far from your Olympic-themed roots because 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey gold medalist Jim Craig wrote the foreword. How did that come about?

A: We were kids when the 1980

Olympic hockey team won the gold medal. We played in a hockey tournament on the same ice in Lake Placid about a month after Craig, Eruzione, O’Callahan, Johnson and the rest won. So having him write the foreword to our book was a particular thrill for both of us. We had spoken to him a couple of times for some other columns we had written and decided to ask if he would be interested in writing the foreword to our new book. It is so great when your expectations of who you think someone is lives up to who they are in real life. He and his team at Gold Medal Strategies have been nothing short of spectacular.

Q: What is so special about your “Ice Breakers,” the new book?

A: Besides having Jim Craig contribute the foreword, “Ice Breakers” really is a continuation of the books we first read when we were learning how to read and write. A lot of the players featured in this book are the legends we grew up watching and emulating who became Hall of Famers, as well as the great stars of today. It also includes great women players who have paved the way for girls to play, including Cammi Granato, Hayley Wickenheiser, Angela Ruggiero and others. Writing this book really has come full circle for us. We hope this book inspires both boys and girls today to learn about the great players of the past like those hockey books that inspired us to read and learn about the players and game we love.

Q: Will you be doing anything special in Oswego to celebrate the release of your book?

A: Yes, we are planning on a book signing in June at The River’s End Bookstore and would love to see our friends and fellow Oswegonians come help us celebrate the book release.

Q: Where and when can people buy the new book?

A: “Ice Breakers” is available for pre-sale now and will be in book stores starting June 3.

TOM CARACCIOLI & JERRY CARACCIOLI FOREWORD BY JIM CRAIG

Bad Meetings Can Leave You With a Productivity ‘Hangover’

Bad meetings don’t just waste time — they can leave workers with a “meeting hangover,” new research shows.

More than 90% of employees surveyed by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte said they sometimes experience these “hangovers” — lingering frustration and distraction after unproductive meetings.

More than half said these “hangovers” hurt their overall productivity.

“A meeting hangover is the idea that when we have a bad meeting, we just don’t leave it at the door. It sticks with us and it negatively affects our productivity,” said Steven Rogelberg, a professor of management at UNC-Charlotte and author of “The Surprising Science of Meetings.”

The study found that these bad meetings don’t just affect you, they can also spread negativity across teams.

Colleagues also tend to vent to coworkers, sharing their frustrations in a process called “co-rumination” — which can hurt the overall atmosphere and make productivity issues even worse.

Factors that can lead to negative experiences include:

• Meetings that could have been handled by email

• Unclear or irrelevant agendas

• Poor facilitation or meetings that run over allotted time

• No clear decisions made

Rogelberg offered CBS several strategies to improve meetings and reduce hangovers.

“Keep the attendee list as small as possible,” he said. “Remember that the more the leader talks, the lower the rating of effectiveness. Thus, the meeting leader needs to talk less and facilitate more.”

Rather than organizing agendas as topics to be discussed, Rogelberg suggests structuring them as questions to be answered.

“By framing agenda items as questions, you have a better sense of who really has to be invited to the meeting,” he said. “You know when to end the meeting and if the meeting has been successful — the questions have been answered.”

‘Newly created Oswego County Child Care Investment Fund can help grow the local economy by ensuring that everyone who wants to participate in the labor force, especially families with young children, have the support they need to truly thrive.’

OAUSTIN 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

The Child Care Investment Fund

A strategic investment into Oswego County’s future

swego County is growing in so many exciting ways — new and expanding businesses, infrastructure investment, and an overall sense of progress.

Economic Trends

However, our future economic growth and the workforce we are preparing to support it are threatened by an affordable childcare crisis.

It is important how we as a county and the stakeholders involved in growing our economy and improving our quality of life respond effectively. We must ensure that everyone who wants to participate in the labor force, especially families with young children, have the support they need to truly thrive.

That’s where an innovative and collaborative solution comes in: the Oswego County Child Care Investment Fund (OCCIF).

Integrated Community Planning of Oswego County, Operation Oswego County, Inc., Oswego County Workforce NY, and the Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce have partnered to launch this fund aimed to address the growing gap in child care affordability and capacity, an essential need that will only increase as Oswego County continues to grow.

The OCCIF is based on an innovative and proven public-private partnership model used in other states that pools funding to address child care issues countywide.

The funding is then used to support areas of need like wage enhancement to retain child care employees, investing in expanding child care centers, starting at home facilities as well as other solutions that are flexible to the needs of employers, families and local communities.

There is no “one size fits all” child care answer, but thanks to an initial $100,000 investment from Constellation, along with matching dollars from Oswego County and other private sources, this fund will enable us to leverage resources and customize

solutions to meet the needs across Oswego County.

Why Now? The Need is Urgent

The need to focus on child care goes beyond just availability — it’s about addressing capacity with the shortage of providers and childcare slots and the affordability of those services.

“The Oswego County Child Care Investment Fund aims to create a sustainable foundation for addressing child care needs and gaps across the county,” said Sara Broadwell, executive director of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce. “By making child care more affordable and accessible, we empower parents to engage fully in the workforce driving economic growth while also contributing to better educational outcomes for our children,”

In Oswego County, there are 8.5 children under the age of 6 for every available child care slot. To compound this issue, since the beginning of COVID-19, the number of child care slots in Oswego County has declined approximately 24%. Capacity is an issue, and affordability is another. The average annual cost for center-based infant care in our area is $21,826 per child, which is 150% higher than the annual tuition for in-state students at New York’s public four-year universities.

The lack of affordable and reliable child care forces parents to make difficult choices: spend a large portion of their budget on child care, opt for lower-quality or less convenient care or cut back on work hours.

Many mothers and single parents opt to leave the workforce altogether because of child care issues, which can cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars over their careers.

“Through implementing a child care investment fund, we are not only investing in the well-being of our children but

also empowering our workforce and supporting local businesses,” said Brandy Koproski, executive director of Integrated Community Planning. “This investment supports the needs of working parents and strengthens our community by ensuring that every child receives the care and early learning they deserve.”

This challenge also impacts businesses looking to expand, create new jobs or even meet existing demands.

I’ve had numerous conversations with businesses across various sectors, all expressing the same concern: while there are growth opportunities, they are unable to fill the open positions they currently have.

The OCCIF, along with our partner organizations and local businesses are stepping up to tackle this issue. Not only will our funds help expand the number of existing providers, but it’s also encouraging new ones to get involved. More providers mean more options for families and more potential workers for businesses to thrive.

A Community Effort

What’s truly exciting about the OCCIF is how it unites both the public and private sectors. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration — when everyone comes together, great things happen.

I’m proud to work alongside dedicated leaders like Rachel Pierce from the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County, Sara Broadwell from the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Brandy Koproski from Integrated Community Planning to ensure the success of this initiative. Together, we are creating a meaningful impact and driving positive change in our community.

As Oswego County continues to grow, the Oswego County Child Care Investment Fund is a shining example of how collaboration can create lasting change.

This initiative not only addresses an immediate need for child care but also lays the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient workforce and a thriving

local economy. By supporting this fund — whether through donations or by spreading the word — everyone has the opportunity to help build a brighter future for families, children and the entire community. The impact of this investment will ripple across generations, strengthening Oswego County’s foundation for years to come.

Although we’re just getting started, our goal is to deepen partnerships with businesses and secure local, state and federal funding to grow the fund, making it a sustainable solution to address child care affordability and capacity gap in Oswego County.

As Rachel Pierce, executive director of the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County, said, “Investing in quality child care is an investment in the economic and social future of our community.”

If you are interested in how you can help the support the Oswego County Childcare Investment Fund, or want to learn more, please reach out.

Oswego County Child Care Investment Fund’s founding partners, from left: Timothy Peter, Constellation / Nine Mile Point site vice president; Rachel Pierce, executive director of the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County; Maria Hudson, Constellation, manager, local government affairs; Sara Broadwell, executive director of Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce; Brandy Koproski, executive director of Integrated Community Planning; and Austin Wheelock, executive director of Operation Oswego County.

‘Dave Bullard’s career spans a golden age in radio news, perhaps the last great hurrah of local TV news and the start of local online journalism. He’s done it all while calling Oswego County his home.’

DDave Bullard

A lifetime of storytelling, navigating a changing media landscape

ave Bullard has been telling stories for a living since the late 1970s and to say he’s seen a change in the local media landscape would be an understatement.

Tim’s Notes

giants, so much of what gets on air is automated and syndicated. “Basically it’s a computer and a guy who logs in remotely to sync up the music and the commercials,” Bullard said.

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

Bullard’s career spans a golden age in radio news, perhaps the last great hurrah of local TV news and the start of local online journalism.

He’s done it all while calling Oswego County his home.

A lifelong Fultonian, born in the longgone A.L. Lee Memorial Hospital and a graduate of the Hannibal Central School District, the only significant time away from Oswego County was when he went to Penn State to study journalism.

He got his first taste of the business working a couple years during college at an AM/FM station that no longer exists in State College, Pennsylvania, before becoming part of the Central New York communications scene in 1981 after graduating from Penn State.

When the legendary Bill Carey hired Bullard at 62 WHEN-AM, “radio was among the dominant media,” Bullard recalled. “WHEN had an 11-person newsroom operating 24 hours a day.”

In the 1980s, Central New York had a very strong media market, with many operations providing well-paying positions for those passionate about the business.

“Syracuse is an example of what happened to media markets,” Bullard said. “When I started working, you went to a public event and in addition to the three local TV stations, you’d have four, five or six radio stations there. There were a lot of us.”

Now, 40 years after Bullard ended his first tour of radio journalism, substantial local radio news only exists with public media outlets, WRVO Media primarily. Newsrooms once full of passionate professionals and many local radio stations “exist in name only,” Bullard said.

Even in Syracuse, a handful of locally-owned radio stations continue to provide local programming and support for community events. But among the media

Strong pictures, now fading

Bullard joined WTVH-5 in 1985 as a reporter and producer. At the time it was the most popular station in a strong television market.

“I feel like I got to be there for the last great era of local TV news,” Bullard said. Many people in the newsroom, like Bullard, came in with years of experience and would be happy to spend a long time working in the Syracuse TV market. The pay was decent, especially once you were there a few years, benefits were good and a nice 401K meant people could have a retirement plan.

Today’s Syracuse newsrooms have less staffing, including after a merger between the news operations of WTVH-5 and WSTM-3 into CNYCentral and many of the people entering the business are not looking to stay for that long.

Today’s newsrooms consist in large part of recent college graduates who, while earnest and talented, only plan to stay for a few years until moving into larger markets, public relations or some other field after working for low wages in a very demanding business. With that kind of turnover, local media lose a lot of institutional knowledge and people who have built up decades of trust, connections and judgment.

By the time Bullard wrapped up nearly a decade at WTVH-5, local media was seen more as a business and an investment than a public good. A couple years later, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated the media industry, which accelerated mergers creating megacorporations controlling more radio and TV from further away, with less willingness to invest in its stations.

After the era of radio conglomeration,

Bullard also worked at WSYR AM 570 as news director for three years. To show how the industry had evolved, at one point WSYR was asked to provide “local” newscasts for stations as far away as Rhode Island and New Jersey.

Changing demographics also made the bottom line worse for Central New York as a media market.

“When I started in the business, Syracuse was the No. 55 media market in the country,” Bullard said. “Now it’s No. 99. You lose a lot of national advertising dollars. You’ll get more national ads when you’re near the top 50. And Syracuse was a test market, too.”

With local media so gutted, Bullard said the region has lost a lot and could be even more impacted in case of a widespread emergency, even if any homes still keep radios with batteries in them as once was common.

“What happens if we have something like the big Northeast blackout and you can’t watch TV and every cell tower is jammed with people trying to make sure each other are OK,” Bullard said. “That’s what local media is supposed to be there for and it’s not any more.”

Online exploration

After opening his own media business in the mid-1990s, Bullard found himself drawn into the first serious local foray into an online-only news operation with the launch of Fulton Daily News in 1999.

For a few years, he worked with Fulton’s then-Mayor Don Bullard (no relation) and others with the city until a new administration was elected. But the group enjoyed working together and wanted to keep serving the community in some way.

“We decided to address the news desert that Fulton was at the time,” Bullard recalled. “A city of this size should have a daily newspaper but it didn’t.”

It seemed a gamble, pioneering a new form of daily journalism where conditions were already making local media profitability more difficult, but Bullard is proud of what it accomplished.

“Fulton Daily News was one of the nation’s first online independent hyperlocal media outlets,” Bullard said, which meant learning a lot while blazing the trail. But it didn’t go unnoticed either: “Editor & Publisher magazine wrote about us a couple of times.”

While it never proved an enterprise to make anybody rich, Bullard was

Dave Bullard delivers the news on WTVH-5, where the Fulton native became a familiar face in Central New York during nearly a decade of TV work as a reporter and producer.

Fulton resident Dave Bullard. Courtesy of Shaina LeAnn Photography.

proud of the efforts everybody provided to prove it was possible.

“We were covering things that weren’t being covered, did a lot of good enterprise stories, won some awards and provided a good service for the community,” Bullard said.

“The number of hyperlocal and online-only daily news operations that have emerged since shows that it can work,” Bullard said. “I enjoyed doing it and it made me proud of my profession. In the end, all we wanted to do is provide a decent service for our community and pay everybody and we did.”

While co-owner and managing editor of the online publication, Bullard still had to pay bills, so he stayed active working in local media, including as assignment editor with NewsChannel 9, news director at WRVO and web development manager of WWNY-TV in Watertown.

While Fulton Daily News and sibling publication Oswego Daily News still exist today, Bullard parted ways in 2013 when another exciting opportunity came along.

A Fair enterprise

Bullard moved back into the public relations side of the media equation in 2013 when he was hired as marketing and public relations manager of the Great New York State Fair, based in

Syracuse.

“I was there for exactly one decade and a week,” Bullard recalled.

With then-director Troy Waffner, Bullard worked hard on redeveloping a lot of the goodwill the State Fair previously had.

“The director really wanted us to rebuild the trust from the community and the local media,” Bullard said.

Not only did they accomplish that, but Bullard said they became one of the most trusted communication offices among state agencies.

Bullard found ways to inject a sense of wonder and joy into the job, most notably media day. Anybody following local media outlets would know when that was, as journalists would happily talk about, among other things, what new deep-fried foods fairgoers could expect.

“It was a massive job,” Bullard said. “I was essentially a department of one, responsible for a $1 million marketing budget and special events. But I absolutely loved that job.”

A busy retirement

Even though he officially retired in 2023, Bullard remains active. He started FanFirst, an events and communications company where he works for three festivals: Oswego’s venerable Harborfest, the International Taste Festival in

Syracuse and even the Lubbock Arts Festival in Texas.

The latter grew out of Bullard’s involvement as a foundation board member of the International Festival and Events Association, where he also writes a column for their quarterly magazine and provides seminars at conferences and regular webinars supporting PR work in the special events industry.

The desire to serve the Fulton community remains, as Bullard is president of the Fulton YMCA board of directors — “it takes a lot of my time, but I love it,” he said — and a board member for the Fulton Betterment Corporation, supporting the Fulton Events Committee in development opportunities.

“I also play drums a couple nights a month,” Bullard said of his other longtime gig, with the Stone River Band. “It’s all media, we’re still turning out content, even if it’s cover tunes on a Saturday night.”

And to show things sometimes come full circle, Bullard recently filed his first story as a freelancer back working with WRVO.

“I just found I missed radio,” Bullard said. “Radio was my first love.”

After a lifetime in an evolving media landscape, Bullard can look back at the changes but also enjoy some relative stability in controlling his own calendar.

“Life is pretty chaotic, but I love it,” Bullard said.

Dave Bullard is ready to go on air in his first job out of college, working at 62 WHEN radio when it had a robust news operation.

IS AM RADIO DEAD IN CENTRAL NEW YORK?

Its glory days may be in the past but 1 in 3 people older than 50 access AM radio at least once a month, usually in their vehicles

By Aaron Gifford

Long before streaming music services, podcasts, digital media and even the most archaic television sets, there was AM radio.

Amplitude modulation (AM) and its subsequent medium-wave stations still exist today, a century after its discovery.

Fans in Central New York and across the nation are not expecting a retro hipster revival like the record industry is enjoying, but those invisible airways that travel at ground level and follow the curvature of the earth will be valued and appreciated during the next massive ice storm or national emergency.

The AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act would require the inclusion of AM radios in all new vehicles as a standard feature at no additional cost. The bill is unpopular with electric vehicle makers because EVs produce electromagnetic fields that further deteriorate AM’s sound quality. It’s viewed as an unfunded

mandate that passes on a requirement to customers who are unlikely to use the tuners.

The law would also direct the federal Governmental Accountability Office to study AM radio’s current role in emergency communications and determine whether an affordable, reliable alternative exists.

“In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, New Jerseyans relied on trusted AM stations for critical and time-sensitive alerts,” Rep. Frank Pallone, the Democratic New Jersey congressman who introduced the bill, said in a Feb. 5 news release. “This bill ensures that no driver is left without access to this vital communication tool.”

Seventy-seven of the estimated 4,000 AM radio stations across the country are considered primary entry points for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deliver information to the public during a crisis. These stations have direct

access to FEMA and the National Weather Service.

The Federal Communications Commission website notes that the first commercial AM radio broadcast in the United States took place Nov. 2, 1920, when Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company in Pittsburgh sponsored the live returns of the Warren Harding-James Cox presidential elections on the KDKA station. The same station broadcast its first live baseball game nine months later. There were about 600 radio stations across the country at that time.

In-car radios were invented in 1930, three years before FM radio was established to reduce static and interference.

Craig Fox, who owns five AM radio stations in Central New York, including 1400 WOLF in Syracuse and 1300 WOSW in Fulton, said motorists had preferred AM for decades because of its reliability. FM signals would cut out under

BACK THEN

The first commercial AM radio broadcast in the United States took place Nov. 2, 1920, when Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company in Pittsburgh sponsored the live returns

bridges and then switch to a different station. But with the increase of so many vehicles on the roads and electronic devices in homes and buildings, AM signals, unlike the much higher-flying FM waves, were susceptible to interference and static.

“In the early days, AM radios actually sounded pretty good,” Fox said, adding that the implantation of stereo and higher fidelity tuners and receivers boosted FMs popularity for music programming. “That took a long time for that (FM) to transition. A 1967 car radio with AM sounded good, but in 2025, it would sound like an old telephone,” he said.

Sports and Commentary

For the past four decades, AM programming across the country has been mainly limited to talk or sports radio.

WSYR, 570 News Radio, is among Central New York’s most

of the Warren Harding-James Cox presidential elections on the KDKA station. Shown are photos of families listening to the radio in in the ‘20s and’40s. Provided by the Museum of Broadcast Communications, A Century of Radio Exhibit in Chicago.

recognized AM stations. It features a mix of local, regional and national political commentators. Similarly, 1260 WSKO, “The Score,” has a considerable local following for its local and national sports commentary personalities.

The roster of Syracuse metro area stations on the AM dial also includes a format for urban adult contemporary music (WHEN 620) and several Christian stations.

Fox, who also owns FM radio stations and television stations, grew up in New Jersey. He remembers tinkering with his transistor radio and recording music from AM radio onto a cassette.

Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow), who is still working in the industry today at the age of 85, was Fox’s favorite radio personality growing up. He also recalled so many live radio broadcasts from hotels and restaurants and contests where faithful listeners called in to win prizes.

“In the ‘60s and ‘70s it was far

less formatted,” Fox said, noting that most AM stations were either Top 40 or “middle of the road” (MOR).

“You would hear anything from the Beatles to Frank Sinatra on the same station. FM became much more formatted.”

Softer groups like Simon & Garfunkel, the Bee Gees and the Association were considered MOR in the late 1960s and early 1970s, followed by John Denver, The Carpenters and Bread. Harder-sounding bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath were more commonly found on FM.

Syracuse University graduate and legendary American Bandstand host Dick Clark began his career at WRUN-AM in Oneida County. The legendary Wolfman Jack got his start at an AM station in Virginia.

DJ Rick Dees, based in Memphis, Tennessee, kept AM on the map for popular music during the 1970s disco era before he eventually moved to FM. His countdown

rival, American Top 40 host Casey Kasem, cut his teeth at a Cleveland AM station before his show was eventually syndicated across the country.

In a 2023 report, Nielsen media market research firm indicated that 1 in 3 people older than 50 access AM radio at least once a month, usually in their vehicles. In late January, the AARP sent a letter to federal legislatures emphasizing the importance of AM radio’s continued existence.

“Older people need all possible channels of communication available to them to ensure their safety,” the letter said. “Older adults make up a larger proportion of the population in rural areas, where wireless and broadband connections are often still limited or nonexistent. AM radio connects millions of older rural residents to their communities through targeted programming,

including the latest local news and weather.”

Fox said AM’s glory days in Syracuse continued until the early 1980s, longer than that of larger media markets nearby.

“Probably after 1982, I’d say,” recalled Fox, who owned the 95X FM station in Syracuse from 1978 until 1988. “In Syracuse, FM was still pretty new. The FM stations didn’t have many ratings at that time.”

Well past the Golden Age of radio, most local radio broadcasters these days rely on a mix of local and national programming to fill airtime.

Fox said many AM stations in Central New York have low-powered translators to have a presence on an FM frequency, but under current FCC regulations, stations can lose those spots if bigger, more high-powered outfits want

that frequency.

Fox said it would be very difficult for a small community-oriented radio station to stay afloat in small markets with limited opportunities to sell advertising. Banks are also hesitant to finance radio station purchases and operations. But those who are flexible and creative can make a go of it.

“I’ve known some that have Spanish programming and others that have segments about farming,” he said. “You have to find what listeners want and that’s not easy.”

Fox said the FCC should start working on a plan to end the AM band as it exists today while preserving a place for it lower down on the dial, just to maintain an emergency broadcast system “without the clutter” that an AM frequency carries.

“Like they did when TVs could no longer use the digital converter

LEFT: “Wall of Fame”hangs in the Dinosaur (WSEN) studio in Syracuse. Craig Fox, owner of several AM radio stations, says It’s a collage of radio pics of his stations going back about 50 years.

boxes,” he said. “They need to do something before AM radios are taken out of cars.”

Radio is a tough sell for younger listeners who prefer streaming services, Fox said, but science and technology are still very interesting to all ages. Depending on environmental factors and atmospheric conditions, an AM tuner can pick up stations from hundreds or even thousands of miles away, especially in the darkest and coldest of nights.

“I get so many letters from Norway, Sweden and Finland — from people who pick up our signals this time of year when it’s mostly dark in those countries,” Fox said. “They are really hobbyists. It’s nice to hear them acknowledge the wonder of radio.”

David Plier, chairman, interim president, and CEO of the Museum of Broadcast Communications and the Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago,

RIGHT: Craig Fox (left) stands with the late Dick Clark, Syracuse University graduate and legendary American Bandstand host. Fox owns five AM radio stations in Central New York, including 1400 WOLF in Syracuse. This photo was taken at WOLF in 1950-51.

said younger people are amazed to learn about the variety of programming AM radio had years before television and even movie theaters, from the Lone Ranger to science fiction, comedies, romance dramas, and President Roosevelt’s fireside chats during World War II.

“People would sit next to the radio and stare,” he said. “It really allowed people to use their minds to imagine what was happening. Everyone had a different idea for what that space looked like.”

“Kids were amazed at what happened at the time when America was entertained at home before television,” he said.

Tens of thousands of hours of old radio broadcasts are archived at

the museum, including World War II programs from Armed Forces Radio, said Plier, who does a Friday night show for WGN Radio in Chicago and has interviewed the likes of Dick Van Dyke, Henry Winkler, Joan Jett, Deborah Harry and Pat Benatar.

Plier said that despite the Golden Age of Radio having long passed, radio still outshines television when it comes to the art of the interview.

“Especially with performers,” he said. “TV is maybe a 2-to 5-minute spot, but with radio, they are happy to give you the full hour. I think plenty of people still appreciate that.”

REAL ESTATE PROS SHARE THEIR OUTLOOK FOR “

“I expect to see an uptick in the number of homes for sale as we continue through 2025.

As new buyers enter the market, taking advantage of first-time home buyer grants, we should see an equal increase in the number of buyers. It’s looking to be an active 2025 housing market!

Buyers can prepare for the spring market by focusing on improving credit score, paying off debts and saving as much as possible to cover things like down payment, inspections, possible bank repairs, moving costs, etc. The best advice I can give to all buyers is to interview multiple real estate professionals, Realtors, lenders, inspectors, and choose the ones who are most responsive and informative! If you have the right team of skilled professionals on your side, the process will be a lot easier and more enjoyable for all!”

Jennifer Hall

Howard Hanna, Liverpool

“

Interviews by Stefan Yablonski

““Our inventory is low currently. Homes are still selling with multiple offers, if they are priced correctly. We are seeing some appreciation in property. Things are looking good for the rest of the year; it’s good for sellers but it is harder on a buyer.”

Jennie Chapin

Chapin Real Estate, Oneida.

“

YOUR CENTURY 21 GALLOWA

“I expect the market in 2025 to have a little more inventory than the past few years. Interest rates will stay between 6% and 7% for the year. We just dropped below 7% in late February! Not only do I expect interest rates to stay between 6% and 7% this year, I see them going down to close to 6% toward the end of

2025. Home prices will remain steady but because of more inventory I don’t expect home prices to increase more than they already have for this year’s selling season. Sellers might have to be careful pricing their homes this year because the fall market wasn’t as robust with home prices as it was in the spring selling season of 2024. But the news on the seller’s side isn’t all doom and gloom. We are still seeing properties sell

CONGRATULATIONS!

in Oswego County for much higher prices than pre-COVID. More banks have more money for first-time home buyers, which is helping them be able to get into the housing market which is always a good sign!”

““I’m very excited for the real estate industry in 2025. I think is the first year that things will begin to normalize [after the COVID-19 years]. Inventory is still lower than normal, but a robust spring and summer should provide plenty of opportunities for buyers in the area.”

Ed Fayette

Century 21 Galloway,

““The real estate market is still extremely active, with 2024 ending with more sales than 2023. There is still a lack of homes for sale in our area as well as the whole real estate market. With the positive outlook with Micron this will be one of the hottest and most active real estate markets in the country.”

Bill Galloway Century 21 Galloway, Oswego

Connie Ryan Century 21 Galloway, Oswego

““I believe the outlook for the real estate market in 2025 will be promising and has already shown signs of revitalization.

Mortgage rates are expected to lower some thus impacting affordability for buyers. With rental amounts remaining so high, I believe they will decide to buy instead of continuing to rent.

There is still an overall housing shortage so demand is strong and inventory will hopefully be on the rise again this spring especially because new home building is happening again. Those homes will add to the housing inventory available. Because of the change in leadership at the federal level, I believe many sellers will have gained confidence in the economy again and will be ready to make their next move.”

Noelle Beckwith Salmonsen, Freedom Real Estate, Fulton, Hannibal

““It’s really hard to say what things will look like in the future. I don’t know. I wish I had a magic wand and could make it better. Inventory is still pretty low and prices are still high. I can’t really say where it’s going. I wish I did, wish I knew. The Micron impact is more in the Clay area, but, yeah, it is going to affect everybody in a positive way.”

Mary

Barbano

Howard Hanna Real Estate, Camillus

“I think it is going to be strong I still think there are many buyers out there than there are homes. I feel that it is still a strong market, it just kind of depends area by area. There are still multiple offers for many homes, if they are priced correctly. Interest rates are starting to come down a bit. I think there is a little trepidation from sellers because the uncertainty in Washington and how people are going to be able to buy many of their basic goods. Liverpool and any area in Clay is hot, hot, hot. The prices have really gone up in Liverpool. In the last year I’d say we are seeing a pretty consistent increase in prices. But there are others besides Micron. Other businesses are starting to be attracted by what they see as a great market, a great area for families. We really have everything that they need here. That is really going to increase housing prices I think for the next year or so.”

Robyn Adams

Hunt Real Estate ERA, Manlius

““The market in Oswego County is shaping up to be both competitive and promising. With steady growth in median prices and low inventory, buyers should be prepared for quick moves while sellers have a great opportunity to capitalize on their investments. It’s an exciting time for the area!”

Sarah Hoefer

Century 21 Galloway, Oswego

““The first three months [of 2025] haven’t been the greatest. We’re still having a lack of inventory — there has been a lack of inventory for a while, but the weather has really put a crunch on things. What seller wants to list their house when they have to keep their driveway shoveled and you have people coming in with snowy boots and stuff like that? Sellers have just not been listing their house so inventory is even less than it has been. I do foresee with this weather improving in the next couple of weeks we’ll start to see the inventory go back up a bit in this area. I think there is still a tremendous amount of buyers out there, so sellers are still going to get their asking price or above. Interest rates are staying right about where they have been for the last year or so. I don’t foresee them dropping any time soon lower than what they have been. As long as a seller is pricing their house properly they are going to get their full value or a little above. I think things will continue as they have been for the last four or five years. We just need the weather to get better in this area. People are really thinking about buying a home because rental properties are very high in rent. It’s cheaper for a buyer to have a mortgage than it is to rent.”

“Karen Hammond Hunt Real Estate ERA, Liverpool

Local Mortgage Loans Trusted, Personal Service

•

Real Estate: Things Are Tough Out There. Not So Much in CNY

Home sales in the U.S. in 2024 were at their lowest level in almost 30 years. The market Central New York saw only a slight decrease — and 2025 promises to be a stronger year for the sector

By Aaron Gifford

Surging real estate prices, high interest rates for borrowers and the skyrocketing cost of property insurance pushed homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans last year — but not necessarily in Central New York.

“The Wall Street Journal” reported that in 2024, home sales were at their lowest level in almost 30 years.

As home prices reached record highs in 2024, 30-year fixed mortgage rates fluctuated between 6% and 8%. The cost of homeowner’s insurance, meanwhile, outpaced the rate of inflation by 8.7% in four years, with

the average premium costing $2,321, according to the U.S. Treasury.

The other significant change to the real estate industry is the new requirement where written agreements with buyers’ agents specifying how much they will be paid must be established ahead of time, but the compensation rates cannot be disclosed on the Multiple Listing Service.

Redfin, a national real estate company, reported that the average commission for buyers’ agents this year is about 2.37%, a very slight decrease since the regulation took effect in August. The company also notes about half of

U.S. real estate agents are reporting that homebuyers and sellers have engaged in more commission negotiations in the past six months.

Increasing energy and utility costs, which in many states have exceeded the rate of inflation in the past four years, have also had a negative impact on the real estate market. The average household paid $2,700 last year for electricity, gas and water, according to Move.org. That figure doesn’t include estimates for internet, phone and other services like trash pickup.

The National Association of Realtors reported that single-family home

Home at 50 Hart St. Oswego listed for 379,000 in February.

sales declined about 5% in the past year. This trend continues into this year, as sales across the country decreased nearly 5% between December and January.

“Mortgage rates have refused to budge for several months despite multiple rounds of short-term interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve,” NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said in a Feb. 21 news release. “When combined with elevated home prices, housing affordability remains a major challenge.”

Slightly decrease in CNY

Central New York reported only a slight decrease in home sales, 2.3%, between 2023 and 2024. Average sale prices here held firm and inventory began increasing again.

The Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors reported a 10% gain in the median sale price of homes in 2024 compared to the previous year.

All told, there were 7,896 home sales last year between Onondaga, Cayuga, Oswego, Madison, Oneida and Seneca counties, according to GSAR.

Inventory at the end of the year was also up to 1,192 available homes, an

increase of 21.4% from December 2023.

“Nearly 7,900 Central New Yorkers received the keys to their new homes last year and planted their roots in communities throughout our region,” said Jennie Chapin, president of the Central New York Information Service.

“The American dream of homeownership is alive and well in Central New York. The life circumstances that lead people to buy and sell homes don’t change in the face of external factors; many of our neighbors were undeterred by the combined headwinds of rising mortgage rates and fewer homes from which to choose.”

“As Central New York’s Realtors look ahead to next year, we anticipate housing increasing activity as consumers adjust to the current mortgage rates and the Micron project progresses,” said Reginia Tuttle, GSAR CEO.

Tuttle anticipates that home sales will increase in the months ahead as work begins on the massive Micron computer chip plant in Clay, Onondaga County.

“The inventory of homes for sale was trending upward in the second half of the year, which is encouraging for the

year ahead,” she said. “We also believe that mortgage rates will moderate as we move into 2025.”

Galloway Realty in Oswego finished second of all Century 21 offices in New York state with 367 sales last year.

Bill Galloway said business improved from 2023 because inventory increased and after an extended post-pandemic period of sluggishness of real estate, activity picked up again in a big way.

Most of the buyers were somewhat local — younger families looking for something bigger or retirees interested in downsizing, said Galloway, whose family just celebrated its 60th year in the local real estate business.

“There was a little shellshock for real estate and for a while, there was nowhere to move to,” he said. “Inventory is picking up and people are moving around again.”

Galloway anticipates 2025 will be a solid year for the Upstate New York real estate market.

His website lists properties ranging from manufactured homes in Volney for $39,900 to a ranch-style house in DeWitt for $225,000 to a four-bedroom

Home at 115 DeWittshire Road in DeWitt. It sold for $499,000 earlier this year. Home at 101 Kenny St. in Fayetteville, listed at $379,000 earlier this year.

luxury home with a hot tub and sauna in the town of Oswego with a view of Lake Ontario.

“We are still one of the most affordable markets in the country,” Galloway said.

Nationally, the median home sale price is $396,900, an increase of nearly 5% in the past year, according to NAR. By region, that figure is $475,400 in the Northeast, $290,400 in the Midwest, $356,300 in the South and $614,200 in the West.

3,127 properties listed

In February, 3,127 properties were listed in Central New York, 1,054 of which were new listings. The average sale price for that month was $258,382.

According to the CNY Realtor website, the average number of days properties remained on the market was 35.1.

Through Feb. 18, the city of Syra-

cuse led all Central New York communities in the total number of sales so far this year, with 78.

However, that’s still a significant decrease compared to the same period in 2024, when 124 homes were sold in Syracuse.

By county, Onondaga reported 382 home sales through Feb. 18, compared to 471 for the same period a year prior. But the average price this year was $298,400, compared to $275,300 in February 2024.

The number of home sales in Oswego County only decreased by two during that comparison period, to 94 from 96 in 2024, while the average sale price improved to $208,100 from $184,400.

Similarly, 45 home sales were reported in Cayuga County, only one less than for the same period last year. The average sale price increased from $244,400 to $251,000.

Madison County reported an increase, from 54 sales during the first

seven weeks in 2024 to 59 this year, while the average price went up from $254,100 to $288,400.

As usual, the highest-priced homes were sold in Skaneateles, with the average price at $972,500, up from $883,600 last year, according to the CNY Realtor website.

“January is typically a slower time of year for home sales in our area due to our active winter weather and this year was no exception,” GSAR president David Manzano Sr. said in a Feb. 23 news release.

“While homes are bought and sold throughout the year, buyers and sellers tend to hibernate during the winter months as they await the arrival of spring. However, often, the best time for consumers to be active in the housing market is when it best meets their goals and needs, not a particular time of year,” Manzano said.

Property at 54 Regan Drive in Oswego sold for 510,000.

For Sale: A Common Sign On Land Around Micron Project in Clay

By Mary Beth Roach

The proposed Micron chip fabrication plant in the town of Clay has the potential of launching a new industrial revolution and with that comes the potential for housing and commercial development revolutions as well.

The real estate signs along the Route 31 corridor, through the town of Clay, foreshadow that kind of development.

“The anticipation of the Micron development has fueled both direct and indirect development opportunities, be they buyers and other types of occupants that would look for the influx of residents and activity in that area,” according to John FitzGibbons of FitzGibbons Real Estate, based in Oswego.

The company has about 20 acres for sale on Route 31, near Henry Clay

Boulevard. The area, Fitzgibbons said, lends itself to industrial, commercial and institutional usage.

With the impending plans for Micron, he sees accelerated development in that area and heightened prosperity and activity to benefit the northern part of Onondaga and southern part of Oswego County.

Various real estate websites, such as Zillow and Landsearch.com, show properties with a wide range of prices and most list its proximity to the Micron site as an asset. Calculations for many of the properties on the market range from $21,400 to $186,000 per acre and some have existing structures on them.

Many of the real estate signs along that stretch of Route 31 belong to Cush-

man-Wakefield and Pyramid Brokerage is an alliance member of that firm. Steve Scuderi, president of Pyramid Brokerage, said that his company has about 300 to 400 acres for sale.

The interest, he explained, really depends on the site and parcel, since much of the property doesn’t yet have public utilities, like sewers.

“For someone to come in and build apartments, you really need public utilities. When and capacity is still sort of question mark. We have transacted a few sites that don’t have sewers and sold to users who are willing to sit on it and wait until that happens,” he said.

Scuderi also noted that media coverage does a lot to heighten the appeal. When Micron first made their plans for

the Clay location public, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal that generated a lot of interest, he explained. Although that may have died down a bit, he anticipates that will pick up again.

For sellers and buyers, Scuderi offered some advice. Sellers, he suggested, should educate themselves “on the development feasibility of their property; availability of public utilities to their property, existence of any wetlands, and lastly knowing the amount of time it can take a purchaser to conduct due diligence and obtain entitlements.”

Buyers, he said, need to have “the determination to stomach the current volatility of the market and having educated expectations on the amount of time and resources it can take to get a project engineered and approved.”

And to underscore FitzGibbons’ statement, there is an expected massive influx of residents.

Today, Clay has the biggest population of any town in the county, with 60,527, according to the 2020 Census, and in his recent State of the County address, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said that the development and the support businesses could attract 75,000 to 200,000 residents to the general area.

This is becoming a destination, according to Mark Re, vice president and regional manager of the Central New York/Northern New York regions of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

With regard to the housing market, Re pointed to a Zillow report that home values in the county have climbed more than 64% between 2020 and 2024.

Zillow also noted that among more than 3,000 counties that it has data on, the county’s home value growth was in the top 3%.

He said he has spoken with professionals who are relocating from Texas, Virginia and North and South Carolina to Central New York for one reason — Micron.

According to neighborhoodscout group.com, Clay is “one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation for the latest quarter and may signal the town’s near-future real estate investment strength.”

RedFin.com sees the Clay housing market as very competitive. In February 2025, it said the median sale price of a home in Clay was $298,000, up 15.5% compared to last year.

The stats would indicate that the revolution Ulatowski predicted is already underway.

Community Colleges See Steep Drop in Enrollment

New programs, partnerships and courses are helping them reverse the trend

By Aaron Gifford

Post-secondary education enrollment began a steady decline around 2010, largely because of lower birth rates. COVID-19 only made the situation worse.

Community colleges, which have a larger share of part-time and non-traditional students, suffered a particularly severe blow from the pandemic.

Enrollment at those institutions decreased from about 11 million in 2010 to 6.7 million in 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Central New York was no exception: Enrollment at Onondaga Community College decreased from 13,018 in 2012 to 8,112 in 2023.

During the same time period, Herkimer Community College enrollment decreased from 3,643 to 1,863 and Tompkins Cortland Community College enrollment decreased from 5,450 to 4,720.

Cayuga Community College survived a 36% drop in enrollment within five years, from 2,623 in 2018 to 1,678 in 2022, before rebounding to 3,451 a year later.

The Community College Research Center reported that the traditional two-year public higher education institutions enjoyed a spike of about one million additional students following the Great Recession of 2008; Americans who were laid off returned to finish their degrees or pursued training for new vocations.

The post-recession increase was short-lived. After COVID-19, high wages for nonskilled positions and jobs in retail and even fast food lured potential students into the labor force instead.

But unlike traditional residential four-year schools, which include many small liberal arts institutions across the nation that are struggling financially,

community colleges have a clear path to success.

Career and technical education is one of the few bipartisan issues gaining attention in Washington, D.C.

Federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are outlining policies and proposed laws to strengthen workforce partnerships between community colleges and major employers. There’s also interest in expanding federal Pell grants to cover shorter-term certificate programs.

“It’s nice to know there are important things we still agree on,” Mary Alice McCarthy, founder and senior director of New America Center on Education and Labor, told a Senate committee on Feb. 12.

“You never hear complaints about overspending on community colleges,” she said. “There’s no better deal in post-secondary education than com-

MAIN: Rendering of what the Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab at Onondaga Community College will look like.

INSET: Construction of OCC’s Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab was underway. Once the massive tools/machines are put in place, glass walls will go up. Photo taken in February. Courtesy of Onondaga Community College.

munity colleges. There’s also less risk.”

Tuition and fees at State University of New York community colleges vary slightly by campus, but most are less than $7,000 per year. Hundreds of thousands of students across the Empire State qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship, which covers full SUNY tuition.

Although it may be too soon to tell whether community colleges in all parts of the country will thrive again someday, NCES has identified a 4.4% enrollment increase nationally.

A look at what some CNY schools are doing

In the past five years, Onondaga Community College has increased course offerings in health care and advanced manufacturing programs.

The new electromechanical technology department offers both associate degree and shorter-term certificate programs. In the health care major, students can earn stackable credentials to work as certified surgical technicians or nurse’s aides. It also has certified training for emergency medical technicians, said OCC provost and vice president Anastasia Urtz.

“We’ve developed a lot of new opportunities,” she said.

About 3,000 local high school students currently participate in dual-en-

rollment programs where they will also earn OCC credits before graduating from high school and presumably many of them will continue their education at OCC after they get their diplomas, Urtz said.

Micron, which plans to build a massive computer chip plant in Clay, is partnering with OCC for workforce development programs. In addition to those advanced manufacturing programs, the college is anticipating strong enrollment growth in construction management, supply chain management, robotics and cybersecurity, Urtz said.

Even though the school’s future is now heavily focused on more technical programs, OCC still maintains a number of programs in the humanities, which typically attract full-time students focused on earning an associate’s degree there before continuing on to a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year school.

“We didn’t have to take many things off the books, Urtz said, adding that some programs, including architecture, were restructured to focus less on the arts and more on technology.

“And we have many people who take one course at a time,” she said. “The nontraditional student population has rebounded.”

OCC has also attracted international students who want to play college

sports. The men’s soccer team, for example, has players from England, Ireland and Saint Lucia. The men’s lacrosse team has a player from Japan.

Herkimer Community College’s enrollment increased by 5.3% after seven years of decline, said Rebecca Ruffing, marketing and communications director.

“Herkimer is committed to accessibility and affordability for families. Tuition, fees, and housing rates have stayed level for four consecutive years,” she said.

HCC added new degree programs for esports management and competitive analytics. The list of additional certificate offerings includes logistics management, digital content and media production, Ruffing said.

The esports program is a major investment. HCC also added a competitive esports team, which currently has 27 members and built a gaming arena for collegiate and high school competitions.

Ruffing said HCC strengthened its partnership with the nearby SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica by creating a “Path to Poly” deal-admission agreement and opening a satellite office for that school on the Herkimer campus.

The school is also focusing on several initiatives to eliminate opportunity gaps and improve student retention. As part of the SUNY ASAP program,

whose membership increased from 54 students in the spring to 150 this past fall, there’s enhanced academic support, mentorship opportunities and more financial aid help.

HCC enhanced its career planning functions by including the career coach tool on its website. The tool allows users to access real-time market data and find employers looking for skills specific to the school’s programs.

“This tool will assist prospective and current students with access to data to make well-informed decisions about their education and career advancement,” Ruffing said.

Like OCC, Herkimer has dual-credit programs with local high schools and is also attracting an increasing number

of international students interested in college sports.

For facilities, the school has invested $25 million in renovations to some classroom buildings and athletic facilities, as well as campus roadways and parking lots. Ruffing said the school is also anticipating a $10 million grant to build a new HVAC laboratory within the village of Herkimer as part of New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Tompkins Cortland Community College is targeting more adult learners under its recent strategic enrollment plan.

This includes adding more offerings to the school’s nursing program to meet the growing needs for health care

professionals in the region and adding more financial assistance and support services to nontraditional students who are returning to college after a hiatus of five years or more, said Robert Palmieri, vice president for enrollment management.

In addition, TC3 added electrical engineering and civil engineering courses to its applied sciences and technology program.

“This program leads to high-paying, in-demand jobs in the region,” Palmieri said, adding that about 50% of the applicants for the fall 2025 semester indicated that they would be first-generation college students.

TC3’s new career pathways tool on its website allows users to connect with potential employers and identify fouryear college programs that might be a good fit for those who want to continue their education.

“Each program and certificate help answer the questions: What can I do with this degree? How much money can I expect to make? Who is hiring in the region?” Palmieri said.

TC3 also offers stackable credentials where students can earn industry recognized certificates or micro credentials required for certain jobs while also working toward an associate’s degree at their own pace.

Popular micro-credential offerings include clinical medical assistance, micro-nano fabrication safety and geotechnical lab technician, Palmieri said.

New Programs at Cayuga Bolstering Enrollment

At Cayuga Community College, a series of new programs for the 20242025 academic year has resulted in increased enrollment, said Andrew Poole, the school’s director of public relations and institutional communications.

This semester, CCC is rolling out its regional police academy in Oswego County. The program was developed in collaboration with several local law enforcement agencies and is expected to address public safety workforce shortages in the years to come.

The college also opened its Advanced Manufacturing Institute on the Fulton campus, another project that involved collaboration with local industrial leaders. Two new micro-credential courses of study have

been added as part of that initiation: electro-mechanical system fundamentals (noncredit) and machining functions (credit), Poole said.

Several capital projects were completed on the main campus in Auburn, including the Workforce Development Center in January. A number of agencies, including Cayuga Works, the NYS Department of Labor, and Cornell Cooperative Extension, are providing workforce development and career-related services to CCC students.

The college is also enjoying an enrollment hike through partnerships with Fulton, Hannibal, and Mexico high schools, where students can earn CCC credits in health sciences or information technology.

The new Early College Pathways

program is wrapping up its first year, providing guidance to local high school students interested in completing multiple college-level courses before they earn their diploma, so they remain on track to earn an associate’s degree at CCC in one year, Poole said.

“These pathways also illustrate career and transfer possibilities, so students and their families can clearly see the possibilities after graduating from Cayuga,” he said.

New academic programs include human services and culinary arts, and major changes were made to the existing criminal justice program to include concentrations in homeland security or law enforcement that complement the new regional police academy, Poole said.

Rendering of a simulated patient lab in OCC’s Ferrante Hall building. The college is embarking on a $30 million renovation that will help students pursuing degrees in health-related professions. Courtesy of Onondaga Community College.

EDUCATION

The Lincoln Auditorium, long regarded as one of the most impressive features of the building, has been totally renovated.

It’s Full STEAM Ahead for New Syracuse School

Innovative Syracuse high school — referred to as ‘employability incubator’— will welcome students for the first time this fall

By Mary Beth Roach

It’s the past meeting the present to prepare for the future.

The Syracuse STEAM School, housed in the historic Central Tech High School building in downtown Syracuse, will welcome its inaugural class of students this fall, offering them a distinctive learning experience to make them ready for the workforce.

The school, formally named the Syracuse Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics High School, has been a collaborative effort from the very beginning, starting in 2016, with a conversation between then-Syracuse City School Superintendent Jaime Alicea and then-OCM BOCES district superintendent Jody Manning and Steve Swift, former board of education member and current community member about a possible collaboration. Manning now serves as executive director/planning STEAM principal and Dan Straub is the school’s principal.

Although Alicea has since retired, the current superintendent, Anthony Q. Davis Sr., has supported the idea right from the start of his tenure.

“On behalf of the Syracuse City School District, I couldn’t be more excited about the opening of the new STEAM Regional High School. This innovative learning facility will provide students with cutting-edge opportunities to explore, create and excel in fields that shape the future. SCSD is thrilled to partner with the city of Syracuse, Onondaga County and Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES,” Davis said.

The Syracuse City School District reached out to CenterState CEO to do a needs assessment. As Manning explained, they asked them to “‘peek around the corner. Where are there going to be jobs in Central New York?’”

The survey yielded 225 responses, determining what businesses would be coming in in the next three to five

years and Manning said, the goal was to develop programs that would prepare students to become the future workforce.

About 100 volunteer experts in a wide variety of subjects contributed to help build the unique curriculum, which includes animation and gaming; business entrepreneurship; construction management; data analytics; entertainment engineering; robotics and automation; semiconductor manufacturing technology and visual and performing arts.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to graduate with more than 22 Carnegie units, which is the standard graduation requirement in New York state.

Companies did more than offer their expertise to develop coursework.

“We just said we wanted time and expertise,” Manning said.

But they got a lot more.

For example, Amazon has donated a robotic lab and Walkair, an area HVAC products distributor, has provided an emulated clean room. The school secured a Micron grant for semiconducting equipment and For A Brighter Future Foundation donated production equipment.

These companies, among other collaborators, consider these donations as investments.

Calling the school an employability incubator, “the goal is to give them future workers,” Manning said.

But before the curriculum was developed; construction began or classrooms were outfitted, there was a lot of work to be done with the New York State Education Department.

The administration wanted to open up the school to students from the city school district and the 23 districts in the OCM BOCES footprint.

“We wanted opportunities and access for all kids, regardless of zip codes,” Manning said.

However, allowing students to cross zip codes and attend school in Syracuse required approval of the NYS legislature. That took between 12 to 18 months to accomplish, Manning said. Another 12 to 18 months were spent bringing the various school districts together to buy into the concept of the school. State funding needed to be secured and as Manning pointed out, they had to go through the approval process with New York state for career and technical education.

Of the 250 students that make up this first class, 60% will come from the Syracuse City School District and the remaining 40% from the 23 suburban districts that are in the jurisdiction of OCM BOCES.

That the student number from the

city schools is higher because the district is governing body of the school, Manning explained. The tuition costs for those coming from other districts are offset by districts.

Students were invited to apply to the school and then each one was interviewed. During the interview process, the administration was able to better explain to the students how different their program would be from a typical high school. After that process, the students were selected from a lottery.

That first class will comprise of ninth-grade students only, as administrators want to gradually build the program, working out “any bumps” along the way, Manning said.

The school received more than 300 applications, which exceeded administrators’ expectations. For the prospective students and their parents, “it’s a bit of a leap of faith,” Manning

said, since the school is still in the construction phase and they couldn’t get in to see the facilities.

The courses have been designed to provide students with three, what Manning called, exit ramps. Upon graduation, the students can either go directly into the workforce; they can opt to apply their credits toward higher education; or they can take part in the earn-and-learn program with one of the school’s collaborators. They can work for the company and earn a paycheck, which that company will pay for students’ pursuit of additional credentials.

Students get hands-on, authentic experience and as well as the traditional courses needed to graduate. Students earning the current technical educational endorsement will receive an advanced Regents diploma, 30 college credits to Onondaga Community College and stackable credentials, which

are nationally-recognized industry credentials.

The success of the school will be evaluated in a variety of ways. Since it is a NYS public high school, Manning said, it will be measured using the same data as other schools. In addition, another parameter will be determined by how many stackable credentials the students earn and the administration will also get feedback on the students from the businesses and institutions where they’re interning.

Project to cost $71 million

The $71 million construction project to transform the former Central Tech, originally built in 1903, to this new facility, began in December 2023 and involved working diligently with the State Historic Preservation Board in the renovation. Special attention during

the rehab has been paid to the Lincoln Auditorium, long regarded as one of the most impressive features of the building. It will have new seats and sound equipment, authentic painting and a refurbished stage. The artistic ceiling work and chandelier will remain.

One might consider that with technology changing at lightning speed, it could be problematic for the STEAM school to continue to keep up the pace. However, Manning said that collaborators have assured him that they are prepared to provide upgrades to the resources as needed.

“If we deliver what we said, the collaborators will help keep the software and hardware current,” Manning said.

The STEAM School is moving students into the future against a backdrop that appreciates the historical architecture of the 20th century.

LEFT: Rendering of the robotics and automation classroom at The Syracuse STEAM School.

RIGHT: Rendering of the animation and gaming classroom.

Craft Brewing Doing Well in NYS; Not So Much Elsewhere

By Stefan Yablonski

After decades of growth, the craft beer industry nationwide is in real bad slump, according to the executive director of the New York State Brewers Association.

While it has gone flat in most places, it still bubbles with optimism in the Empire State.

“We are holding steady,” Paul Leone said. “We are one of those states where some craft breweries are closing, some are opening, some are expanding and some are right-sizing. That leaves us flat — which is not a bad thing in this environment.”

The NYSBA (www.NewYorkCraftBeer.com) is the nonprofit trade association for craft beer in New York state. It does all of the lobbying in Albany and Washington DC for craft brewers in the state.

“We are the marketing arm as well

and hold five beer brewers’ festivals around the state that exclusively feature New York state craft beer,” Leone said. “In March, we also hold the largest statewide brewers’ competition in the country and have a large state brewers’ conference that brings in companies from all over the country.”

Right now there are 505 craft breweries in New York state, which makes New York the No. 2 in the country in total number of breweries, he said. California boasts the most craft breweries in the United States, with 987 breweries in 2023, followed by New York and Pennsylvania.

Those breweries bring in a $4.8 billion economic impact to New York state.

“The big reason why New York state continues to hold steady is the fact that legislatively, we have laws in place to make it easier for craft beverage

producers to open and to operate,” he said. “We have great bipartisan support in Albany and Washington DC.”

The farm brewery law went into effect in 2013.

It allows farm brewers to open restaurants, conduct tastings of all farm-produced beverages and allows them to open branch stores anywhere in the state.

It also protected a tax benefit for small brewers.

On tap in Oswego County

“We are entering our fourth season,” said Rick Fernandes of Junco Brewing Co.

Fernandes renovated a Pennsylvania Dutch-style gambrel barn at 37 Cemetery Road, Oswego Town, into a brewery. He has a farm brewing license,

Inside the newly renovated Old City Hall brewery in downtown Oswego.

6 Acres Farm Brewery will be open this spring at 412 Fort Leazier Road, Mexico. Pictured are the building and the tasting room inside. In 2021, it won the Next Great Idea Oswego County Business Plan Competition, earning the $50,000 grand prize.

which means its sources many of its ingredients from local suppliers.

Junco is open seasonally, typically from late April or early May through the end of October.

“I don’t know if it is the success of the breweries — I think people are starting to learn that there is more out there in beer than just the light lagers that all the big beer companies have been selling us for decades,” he said of the success of the industry statewide. “I think the drinking public has kind of changed a little bit. People are not looking just for some place to go sit down and have a beer; they are looking for other activities as well.”

“We are in retirement. We are running the business as kind of a retirement option and at some point we’ll close it down because we really want to retire.”

The brewers’ conference in Albany

is held in March. That’s where they talk about the numbers — the increase and the decrease, he said.

“What we heard last year was it’s kind of down a little bit, but it is like the restaurant business. Some people are going to open up, some are going to do well and others aren’t going to — some will even close,” Fernandes added. “It’s a combination of a lot of things.

“I think there are opportunities for more breweries here in Oswego County, especially for the summer season. Things slow down for everybody when the snow starts flying. Old City Hall may do well because of their location down in the city.”

Fernandes said he exchanges ideas every once in a while with others (Van Hasslen Brewery in Liverpool for example).

“That is kind of what’s neat about

the craft beer industry. Although people compete, we are all trying to help each other,” he said.

Jenna Behling started brewing as a hobby, experimenting with different varieties and using all the fruits grown on the farm.

“As that hobby grew, it then seemed like a great way to expand our already existing business, Behling Orchards,” she said.

6 Acres Farm Brewery is a New York state licensed farm brewery located in Mexico. In 2021, it won the Next Great Idea Oswego County Business Plan Competition, earning the $50,000 grand prize.

“We were established in 2019, but we’ve been home-brewing and really trying to hone in on our recipes for a few years,” she said.

They harvest and brew craft beer —

“but we’re not your typical brewery,” she said. “We infuse our own fresh produce along with supporting other local farms and businesses.”

They are brewing at 330 Johnson Road Mexico as they are in the process of building a tasting room. It will be open this spring at 412 Fort Leazier Road, Mexico, she said.

They’re looking to include a small restaurant in the tasting room as well.

As a farm brewery, at least 60% of their hops and other ingredients are grown in New York, with several recipes containing close to if not fully 100%, she added.

It was “a little overwhelming” in the beginning learning the world of brewing, with many trials and errors. However, when the knowledge and experience were both gained it became easier.

“I would say that the process

surrounding building and opening a taproom was a tough and long process,” she said. “There’s a lot that goes into the building process including different permits needed to be obtained, some being quicker than others.

“There are a lot of little details that people don’t tend to think of as well. I can say that it’s been a journey; but we will finally be opening the doors to the taproom later this spring! Currently we have diligently been working on our beer lineup along with our food menu. We’re beyond excited to open our doors and have people come try our brews!”

They will be open May to November, she added.

Old City Hall

Old City Hall Brewery recently reopened in downtown Oswego under the ownership of entrepreneur Ed Alberts.

It was created “with the vision to give Oswego locals a place to connect, celebrate and unwind.” Located at 159 Water St., Oswego, it opened on St. Patrick’s Day.

According to its website, “Old City Hall Brewery celebrates top notch culinary taste by taking it back to our roots. Handcrafted ale and entrées give a nod to heirloom methods and ingredients with a modern flair.

“Using carefully crafted recipes, we blend age-old brewing traditions with innovative flavors to bring you a beer experience that honors timeless techniques and a bold taste.”

Besides handcrafted beer they offer cocktails, ciders, wines, liquors and food.

Alberts was unavailable to comment on this story.

6 Acres Farm founding group, from left: Lori Behling, Denyel Busch, Jenna Behling and Eric Behling.

Girl Scouts Say Cookies Are Safe Despite Lawsuit Claiming They Contain Heavy Metals

Two groups focused on food safety and environmental toxins have sued Girl Scouts of America, claiming that their perennially popular cookies are tainted with pesticides and heavy metals.

GMO Science and Moms Across America filed court documents in March in New York, based on a December 2024 study that tested 25 cookie samples in three states, according to Tribune News Service. The suit names Girl Scouts of the United States and the two bakers that produce the tasty treats — ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA’s Little Brownie Bakers.

The confections are ubiquitous during selling season, with more than a million members of the group hawking more than 200 million packages at stores, door-to-door and via QR code. The cookie campaign raises close to $1 billion a year for the organization, according to NPR.

In a blog post last month, the Girl Scouts responded to the study commissioned by the two groups, saying that heavy metals can occur naturally in soil and aren’t a safety issue.

A Queens-area woman who bought several Girl Scout cookies since January, including Peanut Butter Patties and Adventurefuls, leads the suit.

“She believed that she was purchasing quality and safe cookies consistent with the Girl Scout’s promise of ethical business practices and the representations published on the (organization’s) websites,” the lawsuit said, adding that she wouldn’t have bought the cookies or would have paid less for them if the organization had “marketed their products accurately.”

The suit seeks at least $5 million in damages for cookie buyers for alleged violations of consumer protection and labeling laws.

The study said Girl Scout cookies tested had higher than recommended levels of at least four of five heavy metals: arsenic, aluminum, lead, cadmium and mercury, GMO Science reported in December.

High levels of exposure can harm human health and the environment, experts say.

“ConnextCare serves everyone regardless of their insurance coverage or ability to pay,” says CEO Tricia Peter-Clark. The federally qualified health center is the the largest primary care provider in Oswego County. It operates health centers in Central Square, Fulton, Mexico, Oswego, Parish, Phoenix and Pulaski. It offers medical, dental, mental health and substance use disorder services.

Photo by Chuck Wainwright.

ConnextCare Expands Access to Health Care in Oswego County

With a new and expanded location in Oswego, ConnextCare will increase services related to primary care, mental health and dental services

By Stefan Yablonski

Growing up, Tricia Peter-Clark often relied on a school-based health center for access to care.

The health center, as well as her primary care doctor’s office in Pulaski, was operated by Northern Oswego County Health Services Inc., the predecessor to ConnextCare, the organization she now leads.

Peter-Clark grew up in Sandy Creek, graduated from the local high school and went to Buffalo for college.

“I retuned home after graduation and began working at Oswego County Opportunities in 2004 as the coordinator of the cancer services program,” she said.

Later she became coordinator of the Rural Health Network of Oswego County, focusing on collaboration between providers.

She started with ConnextCare in 2013 as the chief operating officer and later became executive vice president under former president and CEO Daniel Dey.

Peter-Clark became ConnextCare’s president and chief executive officer following the retirement of Dey in June 2021.

When she worked on the Rural Health Network of Oswego County, Dey was the chairman of the advisory board.

“Absolutely! Dan Dey was — and still is — an amazing mentor. I learned so much from him during our time together as he was always willing to

share his knowledge and experiences with me and offered guidance and perspective that has truly made me a better leader,” she said.

She has been drawn to leadership roles since her youth. While a student at D’Youville College in Buffalo she served as president of the student government. She also served as chairwoman of the athletic committee, coordinating activities and entertainment that took place during the sporting events. In both roles she had to monitor program budgets and interact with administrative staff.

New office opens

ConnextCare has outgrown its office at 10 George St. in Oswego.

The site offered primary care, mental health services and substance use disorder services.

“The facility only had 12 exam rooms, which ConnextCare was quickly outgrowing,” Peter-Clark said. “The relocation of the office to 120 E. First St. in downtown Oswego will double the number of exam rooms and allow ConnextCare to offer dental services.”

Its dental services were only offered in ConnextCare’s Pulaski and Fulton offices and school-based health centers throughout the county.

“ConnextCare’s lease at George Street was expiring, which offered an opportunity to look at our current scope of practice at this location in comparison to community need,” she explained.

“Our needs assessment prioritized patient access specifically to primary care, mental health and dental services. With this data, ConnextCare began looking for available land to build a new health center or an existing building that we could renovate to house the services we were looking to provide.”

This led them to the 120 E. First St. property.

“[It] is truly a dream come true as the location is central within the city, making it convenient for patients to walk to the office for care or take public transportation that routinely passes by this location,” she added.

It is within walking distance to many public housing buildings in the city.

ConnextCare invested $11.8 million in the project.

The George Street building is owned by Oswego County Opportunities. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique also rents space at the building.

At the George Street location in 2024, ConnextCare provided 20,035 visits. The new East First Street site means more can be seen.

They weren’t accepting new medical patients. However, they’ve added dental services and were accepting and scheduling new patients to be seen at the site on March 31, Peter-Clark added.

They are adding more programs ... more staff.

Currently ConnextCare has 273

employees, 47 medical providers, 14 dental providers and 19 mental health providers.

“In addition to expanding the primary care and mental health services we already provide, we will begin offering dental, with seven, state-ofthe-art dental operatories ready to open on the second floor,” she said. “As for increased staff, we estimate the addition of 23 new jobs.”

The new building’s ground floor includes 18 primary-care exam rooms as well as provider office spaces.

The second floor contains seven dental-exam rooms along with various workspaces and break rooms for staff.

Unique challenges

A federally qualified health center (FQHC) is a community-based health care organization that provides comprehensive primary care and support services to underserved populations in the United States.

“ConnextCare, as a federally qualified health center, is required to treat everyone who walks through our doors, insured or not,” she said. “This means that we face unique challenges that other providers may not, from both a financial and workforce perspective.

“About 70% of the federal grant dollars community health centers receive to help offset some of our costs is set to expire at the end of March, while the other 30% is part of the annual appropriations bill that is also subject to the uncertainty of another short-term extension this month [March].

“Although we have had bipartisan support for community health centers for the last several decades, our funding has remained relatively flat compared to our patient growth and the rate of inflation,” she said. “We need a longterm funding solution!”

“Our current FQHC costs exceed our PPS rate by 44%. As of Dec. 31, 2024, total FQHC expense ratio per patient visit is $242 and our current PPS (Prospective Payment System) rate of reimbursement is $133.05,” said Tracy Wimmer, CFO. “As of Dec. 31, 2023, our total FQHC expense ratio per patient visit was $241 and our PPS rate of reimbursement was $128.51.”

Troubling tariffs

“It is anticipated that the tariffs implemented by the Trump administration will affect costs in the health care supply chain, as China plays a significant role in the production of the medical sup-

plies and pharmaceuticals that we rely on here in the US.,” Peter-Clark said. “Outside of increased costs, we could likely experience delays in receipt of the supplies, as items typically go on allocation by the distributors when they are limited.

“Although we haven’t directly felt this yet because we have enough supplies on hand, we are extremely concerned with the financial impact of this, as we have already seen pharmaceutical costs increase by greater than $1.8 million in the last two years.”

Since the initial notice of the funding freeze, ConnextCare has adjusted internal operations to better prepare for what is likely to come.

This included a hiring freeze for nonessential positions, inventory control between sites and the adjustment of operations to allow for increased access for its patients.

“I continue to remind my team to focus on the things that we can control, which is patient access and volume, so that we are prepared to manage the things that we can’t,” she said. “We will keep advocating at the state and federal level for increased funding to support community health centers who are the best, most innovative and most resilient part of our nation’s health system.”

ConnextCare team at a recent photo shoot: From left, Ken Martin, senior director of IT; Liz Krell, chief operating officer; physician Scott VanGorder, associate medical director; Tricia Peter Clark, chief executive officer; Tracy Wimmer, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Stephanie Earle, senior director of human resources; and Nancy Deavers, senior vice president chief nursing quality officer.

Significantly concerned

Community health centers are significantly concerned about potential cuts to the Medicaid program.

“Here in New York, about 47% of CHC funding comes from Medicaid and about 62% of all CHC patients rely on Medicaid for coverage. CHCs play a significant role in providing access for those on Medicaid, serving one in every five Medicaid beneficiaries statewide,” she said. “In addition, our rate of patients with no insurance is nearly three times the New York state average. Cuts to the Medicaid program would be detrimental for many of our patients, particularly the 41% who are children and seniors.

“ConnextCare serves everyone regardless of their insurance coverage

or ability to pay. So a loss of coverage would likely lead to increased self-pay visits, where we would collect only a portion of the total charge for the visit, if anything at all. Without insurance coverage, patients will delay accessing care or seek alternative options, such as an emergency room or urgent care, where the cost of care is much higher.

“Any cut to the Medicaid program, even a marginal one, will have a serious financial impact on ConnextCare. We are already advocating for rate reform at the state level to close the mounting gap between our current CHC Medicaid payment rates and the true costs of delivering services.”

50 years of care

ConnextCare is no longer just in Northern Oswego County. It is a robust

VISITS TO CONNEXTCARE

network of ‘Connexted’ health centers, spanning all across Oswego County and is stronger than ever before, according to Peter-Clark.

Established in 1975, ConnextCare Pulaski is a patient-centered health care practice providing Northern Oswego and Southern Jefferson County residents with a variety of comprehensive health care, dental and related services. The center is operated by ConnextCare, a private, federally funded nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.

ConnextCare is the largest primary care provider in Oswego County.

It operates health centers in Central Square, Fulton, Mexico, Oswego, Parish, Phoenix and Pulaski. It offers medical, dental, mental health and substance use disorder services.

It also operates nine school-based health centers located in APW, Mexico, Pulaski, Fulton, Oswego and Sandy Creek school districts.

They will see any patient, regardless of ability to pay and offer a sliding fee discount program which will reduce a patient’s charges for services based on their household income.

“ConnextCare’s employees, guided by our dedicated leadership team and volunteer board of directors, are at the heart of our success,” said Peter-Clark. “This team understands the unique opportunities within Oswego County and has the proven ability to adapt quickly to changing environments to achieve the outcomes desired.”

In March 2024, the ConnextCare board of directors presented Peter-Clark with a leadership award for her guidance, vision and advocacy for the organization.

The relocation of the ConnextCare office to 120 E. First St. in downtown Oswego will double the number of exam rooms and allow it to offer dental services.”

Despite Low Ranking, Oswego County’s Health Situation Is Improving (Slightly)

By Stefan Yablonski

Cigarette smoking rate in Oswego County is one of the highest in the state, 21%. That compares to 19% in Onondaga County and 12% average in New York state. “Poverty can be a driving force for things like obesity and smoking. Economically I think that is still a big challenge in our area,” said Diane Oldenburg, an associate public health educator at the Oswego County Health Department.

Oswego County is ranked one of the least healthy counties in New York, according to a report by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.

The 2023 report from the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute looked at data including the ages at which people die, their self-reported health conditions, their health behaviors, their access to health care, social and economic factors and the environment around them.

It ranked Oswego County 49th of 62 counties in New York regarding health outcomes, factors and behaviors.

Things are improving

“We have seen some improvement in that,” said Diane Oldenburg, an associate public health educator at the Oswego County Health Department.

Among the report’s findings were life expectancy in Oswego County, which is 76.8 years. Oneida County was slightly lower at 76.6 and Madison County was the highest at 79.6. Oswego

County and Oneida County tied at 21% of adult smokers while Madison County had the lowest 18%.

Adult obesity in the county was 40%. Cayuga County was highest with 41% and Oneida County was lowest at 25%.

Frequent mental distress was at 17% for Oswego, Cayuga, Onondaga and Oneida counties. Madison County was at 16%.

Food insecurity in Oswego County was at 12% while Madison County was at 8%.

“Poverty can be a driving force for things like obesity and smoking,” Oldenburg said. “Economically I think that is still a big challenge in our area.”

Things like smoking and obesity can contribute to poor health outcomes, such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease.

The health department watches the trends of health outcomes and factors like the ones highlighted in the CHR&R report.

The department has many pro-

grams and services to address these problems.

While the county is usually in the lower third of the state, Oswego County has been trending in a positive way, she pointed out.

“More people with lower incomes smoke than people at higher income levels,” Oldenburg said. “We are out in schools doing education programs — emotional wellness, suicide prevention —we are in most of the high schools. We are doing a ton of vaping education in the schools right now, talking about the hazards of it. The use of traditional tobacco has declined but vaping is still an issue.”

Education is key

Education is a key factor in positive health outcomes, according to Oldenburg.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, many resources were unavailable. But now the health department is reintroducing the community to a lot of these

programs and services,” Oldenburg said. “The department continues to do more with health education programs.

“We are getting out there with some of our living well workshop classes, living well with chronic disease, which really relates to a lot of those risk factors,” she added. “Our classes cover eating healthy, how to be more physically active, medication management, how to talk to your provider and advocate for yourself and more. We have put a lot of positive things in place trying to address some of these problem areas.”

The health department has chronic disease and diabetes self-management programs, fall prevention classes and conducts vaping and mental health education programs in local middle and high schools. It also distributes Narcan (a drug used to treat overdoses), fentan-

yl test strips and provides training and education to help combat overdoses.

Although it wasn’t included in the overall ranking of the counties, the CHR&R report also noted that Oswego County has a higher rate of drug overdoses compared to New York state overall, with 25 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people compared to 21.

Living well workshops cover a variety of strategies to help participants manage their health in a supportive, judgment-free group setting. All workshops are free and offer a safe, welcoming space for residents to engage in discussions about their health and well-being with trained professionals. For information on upcoming workshops, visit www.health.oswegocounty.com

REGIONAL HEALTH AT A GLANCE

HEALTH OUTCOMES (BY COUNTIES)

HEALTH FACTORS (BY COUNTIES)

CLINICAL CARE (BY COUNTIES)

• How to read it — Example: 2,500:1 — 2,500 people for one primary care physician.

Source: www.countyhealthrankings.org, maintained by the University of Wisconsin — Population Health Institute, part of School of Medicine and Public Health.

Diane Oldenburg: “Poverty can be a driving force for things like obesity and smoking.”

Today’s YMCAs Aren’t Just ‘Gym and Swim’ Any More

Many Ys in Central New York now offer evidence-based chronic disease management

programs

By Stefan Yablonski

Over the past several years, the YMCA of the USA has driven innovation in the prevention and control of chronic disease and disability to save lives and reduce health care spending.

With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Y has delivered tangible results in evidence-based health interventions.

Programs address needs including healthy weight and children, the Livestrong cancer survivor program, enhance fitness older adult group exercise, diabetes prevention and a blood pressure self-monitoring program.

Here’s a summary of what some CNY Ys offer.

In Oswego

Trish Levine, Oswego YMCA director of communication, marketing and health and wellness, said that the Oswego Y currently offers two programs: a blood pressure self monitoring program and a newly added fall prevention course — A Matter of Balance.

Oswego YMCA community health coordinator Jodie Osmun oversees these two evidence-based chronic disease management programs.

A Matter of Balance addresses a major public health concern for individuals older than 65 — injuries related to falls — as well as those living with chronic conditions such as heart disease.

The four-week evidence-based group program was developed by researchers at the Oregon Research Institute. The program, based on the principles of tai chi, is led by Oswego YMCA qualified instructor coaches who will teach modified movements and cognitive approaches especially for falls prevention.

It works to improve balance, muscle strength, flexibility and mobility to enhance overall physical health, which leads to better functioning in daily activities.

Participation in the program may also result in better mental health, reduced stress, improved memory and cognition and increased self-esteem, according to Osmun.

In addition to the program’s physical benefits, the safe, supportive group setting provides an opportunity for participants to enjoy learning with like-minded adults and find relief from the isolation that can sometimes come from living with limited mobility.

The Oswego YMCA offers a fourweek program in April at the Maples Assisted Living Facility in Fulton and again in May at the Oswego YMCA.

The program is free and limited to 12 per class. Interested individuals should contact the Oswego YMCA at 315-342-6082 to inquire on chronic disease management programs as well as other options for improving mobility, health and wellness.

Group participating in Girls Rock at the Fulton YMCA, a weekly workshop for girls, aged 8 through 12, to experience the Y’s positive self-esteem boosting program.

In Onondaga County

The YMCA of Central New York offers evidence-based health intervention programs to address community health needs through structured, research-backed initiatives, according to Stefanie Noble, vice president of marketing and communication.

Among them are:

• Cancer support: Livestrong at the YMCA is a free 12-week exercise program for cancer survivors to regain strength.

Laurie’s Hope is a year-long program supporting breast cancer survivors. It is funded by the Saint Agatha Foundation.

• Chronic disease and senior wellness

• Enhance Fitness is a 16-week program designed for individuals with arthritis and older adults.

• Walk with Ease is a six-week walking program to reduce pain and improve mobility.

• Moving for Better Balance is a 12-week fall prevention program for older adults.

• Diabetes Prevention Program is a year-long lifestyle intervention for those at high risk for Type 2 diabetes.

• Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring is a four-month program to help individuals with hypertension track and manage their blood pressure.

• BrainSavers is a 12-week brain health program designed to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

These programs often require medical clearance and support individuals managing chronic conditions or recovering from health challenges.

The YMCA of Central New York also partners with healthcare providers and clinicians receiving referrals to offer an eight-week YMCA membership for patients completing medical treatment, allowing them to continue their health journey.

“Our goals for 2025 and beyond are to continue to work with additional referral partners to support our members to better health outcomes and continue to enhance our program delivery with additional sessions and adding more trainers and instructors,” Noble said. “We are proud to offer so many of these evidence-based health initiative programs to our YMCA of Central New York members.

“These proven, high-quality strategies empower our members as individuals to improve their well-being in a supportive environment and helps

our Y create lasting healthy change in our community.”

In Fulton

The Fulton YMCA is changing its model to become a more inclusive, purpose-driven entity — one built to ensure everyone in every community has equal opportunity to learn, grow and thrive, according to executive director Amy Leotta.

Seniors taking part of “A Matter of Balance,” a program offered by the Oswego and other YMCAs to prevent falls.

“We do a women-to-women group. It’s a partnership with Oswego Health. We talk about mental health and support, coping skills. It’s an offshoot of our young girls program (Girls Rock). It’s a supportive space for women to connect, grow and unlock their inner potential through somatic practices, meditation, journaling and group discussions. All those aged 18 and older are welcome to attend this free program,” Leotta said.

Girls Rock is a weekly workshop for

girls, ages 8 through 12, to experience the Y’s positive self-esteem boosting program. It is designed to transform self-doubts and insecurities into selflove & worth. It gives girls the space to be silly and play while giving them the tools to build healthy relationships and confidence.

Leotta invites women making a difference in the Fulton area to meet with the girls.

“It’s important for young girls to know the many ways that women and girls are positively impacting our world,” she said. “Girls Rock is building the strong confident leaders of the future. I love watching the girls interact with the adults and the connections being made.”

The Fulton Y currently doesn’t offer chronic disease management classes yet.

“We are currently looking at how to add an evidence-based program,” Leotta said. “It probably won’t actually launch until fall.”

A lot of their programs are focused on children, wellness and mental health.

“We have a full operating daycare and a before and after school program,” Leotta said. “We have a lot of things happening that are not your typical ‘gym and swim.’”

Americans Borrowed $74 Million in 2024 to Cover Medical Costs

Thirty-one million people, or 12% of the U.S. adult population, borrowed $74 million last year to help pay medical costs for themselves or a family member, according to the results of a survey conducted by West Health and Gallup.

The online West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey included 3,583 U.S. adults and was conducted from Nov. 11 to 18, 2024.

The survey revealed that 18% of young adults aged 18 to 29 years needed to borrow money to pay health care costs. Adults aged 30 to 49 years reported similar rates. However, only 9 and 2% of Americans aged 50 to 64 and 65 years and older, respectively, said they needed to borrow money to help with medical costs.

Twenty percent of women younger than 50 years reported borrowing money to pay for health care compared with 14% of men younger than 50 years. Similarly, women aged 50 to 64 years were twice as likely as men in the same age bracket to report borrowing money. Although men were less likely than women to borrow money to pay for health care, they tended to borrow more (51 versus 36 percent borrowing $1,000 or more).

Black and Hispanic adults were each more likely to report having borrowed money than their White counterparts (23 and 16 percent, respectively, versus 9 percent). When broken down by age, the disparities were particularly noticeable among adults younger than 50 years (29 percent versus 19 and 14 percent for Black adults versus Hispanic and White adults, respectively).

Fifty-eight percent of Americans said they are concerned that a major health event could lead to personal medical debt, including 28 percent who reported being “very concerned.”

“The findings suggest that stronger public policy is needed to address the impacts of high-priced health care; without such changes, millions more may accumulate debt or be forced to make painful tradeoffs about seeking health care,” according to a news release from Gallup.

Oldest Boomers About to Turn 80

New challenges for local communities as 10,000 baby boomers turn 80 every day starting next year

By Aaron Gifford

In Onondaga County alone, the number of residents aged 80 and older is expected to increase by 57% over 15 years — from 23,991 now to 37,634 in 2040.

The expected spike of 80-plus folks for the four-county Central New York region, which also includes Cayuga, Madison and Oswego, isn’t as drastic, from 51,462 to 55,559, but it’s still notable at nearly 8%, according to Cornell University’s Program on Applied Demographics.

Cornell University forecasts that the total number of CNY baby boomers, which spans those who turned 60 last year to those who will turn 80 in 2025, will exceed 203,000 by 2040.

As seniors across the country are expected to live longer — and as the oldest members of the baby boomer

generation turn 80 at a rate of about 10,000 a day — there’s a need locally and nationally for senior housing, medical, transportation, socialization and independent living services to accommodate this demographic.

“The group’s needs must be targeted for services which can enable them to remain independent in the community in safety and with dignity for as long as possible,” said a four-year service plan released by the Oswego County Office for the Aging on Oct. 11.

The report also noted that the average age of clients who received home aide services through the Oswego County OFA in 1995 was 75, while today, that average age is 85.

OFA representatives in Onondaga and Madison County are also reporting an older population compared to just

10 years ago.

“In fact,” said Julie Harnie, Madison County OFA executive director, “it’s not just retirees anymore. There’s a lot of 80-year-olds who are still working.”

JoAnne Spoto Decker, executive director of the Onondaga County OFA, said that during her 30-plus years of working with seniors, the number of 85-year-olds in recent months has been the most striking.

“We have clients who have been with us for decades now,” she said, noting that her office’s primary focus is to maintain or improve the quality of life for seniors and reduce their isolation. “People are living longer, thankfully.”

OFA services across New York state counties range from helping seniors find housing or medical care to providing home aides and meals, help

with shopping, nutrition education, personal care and companionship in person or by telephone.

Volunteer-based transportation service is also a primary OFA function. In Madison County, the organization has enough volunteers to provide rides to anyone older than 60 “to anywhere they want to go,” Harnie said.

Annette Clark, director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, said the average age of her volunteers is about 70. In addition to driving, the volunteers also help with blood drives, digital literacy initiatives at local libraries, food pantries, animal shelters, a telephone companion program and exercise or bone-builder sessions. Between April 2023 and March 2024, the group of 92 active volunteers logged 6,992 hours across 20 locations.

Clark said many of the volunteers in their 60s or even some in their 70s are also caring for their own elderly parents or adult children who still live at home or grandchildren.

In New York state, multigenerational households with three or more generations were the fastest-growing living arrangement involving seniors between 2010 and 2019, from 54,808 households to 77,499 or 41%, according to Cornell University PAD. The report also said that, as age increases, the gap between the male and female population widens.

“There were nearly twice as many women than men aged 80 and older in 2019,” the report said.

Spoto Decker said there’s a waiting list of older adults looking to downsize to ground-floor apartments without stairs in Onondaga County.

With the shortage of those types of houses, OFA is keeping a closer eye on seniors who are most at risk of a fall in their current home, which includes fall prevention education outreach.

“We have a lot of services that are tailored to keep people in their living choice — their home of where they want to be,” she said.

The American Association of Retired Persons issues a “livability” score to cities and counties across the nation based on the availability of public transportation, average housing costs, the number and quality of hospitals and a variety of other factors, including air quality. Onondaga County ranked the highest in the CNY region, with a score of 54 out of 100, followed by Madison County at 50, Cayuga County at 48 and Oswego County at 46.

For Oswego County, the AARP

Helen Grems, left, and Rita Johnson, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers at Compassion Connection in Canastota, were serving when they each received awards for reaching 2,000 lifetime hours of service.

cited a “shortage of health care providers, above average rates of smoking and preventable hospitalizations and below average access to exercise opportunities.”

Oneida County, where the cities of Utica and Rome are located, received 52 points. The report noted a severe shortage of health care professionals and low patient satisfaction.

The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, under its strategic plan for 2020-2025, applauded those regions for their collaborations between communities and health care systems. The organization, however, said developing age-friendly communities goes well beyond just opening senior centers and making buildings wheelchair accessible.

“Age-friendly communities are committed to engaging older adults and providing opportunities for them to be full, vital members of the community and recognizing that older adults have a lot to contribute if given the chance,” the plan said, adding that more seniors should be elected to local governing boards and that public schools should invite older adults to give presentations on health aging.

The Aging Studies Institute at

Syracuse University reports that in both Oswego and Onondaga counties, 24% of the population is older than 60. That figure for most Upstate New York counties hovers between one-fourth and one-third of the population, with Cayuga County at 28% and Madison at 27%. Hamilton County, a rural area in the Adirondacks, is the highest at 43%. The July report, “How can America Support the Health of its Aging Population,” calls for extending clinic hours for seniors, establishing community health clinics in underserved areas, bolstering access to health care in immigrant communities and creating age-inclusive communities.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 80% of those older than 75 have at least one chronic health condition and 50% of that population has two chronic health conditions, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, stroke or diabetes.

About 6.2 million Americans older than 65 are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia and the risks increase with age, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

In addition to concerns about the future of Medicare and Social Security, many seniors across the nation are

also stressed about covering medical bills and living expenses. The Insured Retirement Institute reports that 45% of baby boomers have no retirement savings and more than 25% have less than $100,000.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services tallies the number of U.S. residents in long-term care at 14 million and that number is expected to double by 2050.

“Everyone is feeling the pinch,” said Harnie.

Her colleague, Annette Clark, the RSVP director, said even though the increasing number of older adults compared to the amount of services and money needed to accommodate the Baby Boomer generation in the years ahead presents a bleak situation, the resolve demonstrated by those folks during COVID-19 is encouraging — especially those who returned to volunteer work.

“People are coming back from COVID,” she said. “This is a very solid group of people. They know the key to longevity is staying mentally and physically healthy. They want to have something to go to and to be part of something.”

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer Ron Smith, left, and Judith Durant, Madison County RSVP coordinator, pick winners in a basket raffle to raise funds for a bench to honor first responders as part of a site to recognize those who served during and after the 9/11 attacks.

Say hello to a convenient way to stay healthy in Oswego County. ConnnextCare offers a comprehensive set of services - family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, substance use disorder treatment and social work all under one medical group. Patients within our network can visit any of our seven locations at any time.

ConnextCare also offers medical, dental and mental health services at nine School Based Health Centers in five Oswego County school districts.

WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE IN THE PULASKI ACUTE CARE SUITE

MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:00AM - 6:00PM

Why Health Insurance Claims Are Denied. What to Do About It

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Of course, you want your employees to feel satisfied with their health insurance benefits.

It’s a big part of their compensation package.

Routine care helps keep employees healthy and loyal to your company. But when their health insurance claims are denied, they can do something about it in many cases.

Now retired, George Chapman for many years operated G.W. Chapman Consulting as a hospital consultant. He advised that certain situations are no-brainer denials such as unpaid premiums, obtaining treatment outside the covered providers and — one that surprises many people — not following treatment protocols.

“For example, before surgery, the patient is required to go through physical therapy or lose weight,” Chapman said. “That’s a growing reason for denial: obesity. Anesthesiologists don’t want to put someone out who’s obese. That’s why they require weight loss, drug therapy or physical therapy before they get to surgery. I’ve had more people say, ‘I’ll be limping around a few more months until I go to the gym and lose weight.’ But people who are morbidly obese don’t do well with anesthesia.”

Another reason for denial is undergoing procedures or treatments that the insurer considers experimental, even if recommended or prior authorized by a provider. It doesn’t help to ask the provider if a treatment is covered or requires prior authorization.

“The doctor will say, ‘I have 20 plans to worry about; I don’t know who requires prior authorization,’”

Chapman said. Fortunately, fighting the denial based on prior authorization typically results in a win for the policyholder, according to Chapman. The same is true if the physician’s staff entered incorrect information that caused a denial. It pays to carefully review the information before sending it and any information the insurance company returns when they issue a denial. Patient information such as a wrong birth date, middle initial or code can send a claim into a tailspin.

“The final reason is that they consider it unnecessary,” Chapman said. “That’s where the provider has to jump in.”

A physician who stands up for patients can help get a claim moved along. Chapman said that the statue of limitations on claim denials is six months.

Chapman suspects that the number of claim denials issued by insurance companies has to do with the rising number of aging baby boomers.

“The companies’ profits will go down because they’re paying,” he said. “They make money on younger people who are healthy. They’re all finding that out. UnitedHealthcare typically has a lot of these Advantage plans that are ‘upcoding.’ They’re saying to the CMS, ‘Our patients are really sick. We need more money.’ They upcode to Medicare to get more money. When the member enrolls with their insurance plan, Medicare pays for each enrollee per plan.”

Fortunately for consumers, health insurance companies reverse up to 80% of claim denials. However, only 5% of people with a denial appeal it.

“It’s almost like a policy to deny and see who comes after us,” Chapman said of insurance companies. “Very few people challenge.”

He encourages people to gather their paperwork and work closely with their healthcare provider to make sure everything is filled out correctly and done according to the regulations of the health insurance plan.

“They want to make sure you have coverage so they get paid,” Chapman said.

United Healthcare Leads List of Companies that Deny Claims the Most

When selecting your company’s health insurance plan, take a look at denial rates. They matter when employees need healthcare and contribute to the overall satisfaction with the plan. George Chapman operated G.W. Chapman Consulting as a hospital consultant. He shares claim denial rates among various insurers:

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What Will Fix Our Healthcare System?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Iam my mother’s healthcare proxy and manage her health insurance.

Imagine my surprise when I received an email from Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy, operated by UnitedHealthcare, stating all of her prescriptions with them were canceled.

Of course, I immediately called UnitedHealthcare.

The call center employee had no idea why I did not know United no longer offered her policy — not just the online pharmacy service — and that her policy had been canceled two months prior!

All of her mail, calls and emails related to these matters go to me.

I had two weeks to find her a different policy before her special enrollment period ended. And anytime during the weeks her coverage lapsed, she would have only basic Medicare, paltry coverage at best. But don’t worry! They’re “sorry for the inconvenience,” a phrase which naturally solves all of my problems.

Thankfully, Theresa Cangemi with Retirement Health Plans Made Simple in Brewerton was able to Zoom right away and guide our selection of the right plan.

Obviously, it was not a plan with UnitedHealthcare.

If you have enjoyed wonderful service from UnitedHealthcare, good for you. The above example is one of the tamer stories I could offer of a dozen such accounts. Dropping my

mom’s coverage after years of faithful premium payments was the last straw. And it was emblematic of a healthcare system that is broken.

When receiving care, patients wait too long and pay too much. Their insurance companies provide too little coverage and charge too much. Customer service? It no longer exists.

George Chapman views a national health insurance program as the answer — and believes that America is ready for it.

“The resistance by the American Medical Association is almost nonexistent,” Chapman said. “A major reason why we didn’t have national health insurance up until 20 years ago is the AMA was dead set against it. That’s changed.”

Now retired, Chapman operated G.W. Chapman Consulting as a hospital consultant. He explained that because major hospital systems have purchased most independent providers’ practices (thanks in part to onerous insurance red tape), these providers no longer have to worry about billing. These large organizations have a robust billing department to chase down payments. But receiving payments from a single source would streamline their work.

“Office practice managers usually run the systems, they say Medicare runs great,” Chapman said. “The fees and rules are laid out. They have no problem with basic Medicare but then they have to deal with Advantage plans. The

denial rates are much higher because Medicare is nonprofit.”

National health insurance may sound like it would raise premiums and prices for services since it would eliminate competition. However, Chapman said that every commercial insurer pays Medicare rates and for that reason commercial insurance isn’t needed.

“The biggest opponent keeping us from national health insurance is Big Pharma,” Chapman said. “They’re scared to death of national health insurance because all drug prices will be negotiable, not just 10. The pharmaceutical lobby is doing everything in its power to make sure it doesn’t happen. If you take away the drug lobby you’ll have national health insurance a lot sooner.”

Chapman also believes that patients would benefit from national healthcare.

“We have no healthcare system,” he said. “There’s no system. There are individual systems. This is what’s driving private providers out of practice.”

The difficulty in filing insurance claims and receiving sufficient reimbursement has all but eliminated independent practices.

It’s also likely that coverage representation would broaden. Gone would be the days of paying higher out-ofpocket rates for providers offering care outside the network since the network would not exist.

“National healthcare covers the whole United States,” Chapman said.

George Chapman

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ADHD at Work

What you need to know to comply with ADA law

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

You likely know that attention deficit hyperactive disorder is a lifelong condition. But did you realize that the Americans with Disabilities Act covers ADHD in the workplace?

People with ADHD can request reasonable accommodations just like any other person with a disability.

“Someone would reach out to their supervisor and human resources to develop a plan for support for themselves to ensure their accommodations are fitting their needs,” said Leah Phaneuf, clinical director of integrated health with Liberty Resources in Syracuse. The nonprofit also has an office in Fulton.

This may happen during the hiring process or at anytime during the person’s career.

It’s important to note that some people do not know they have ADHD until adulthood. For example, many girls are overlooked in childhood because they often present differently than boys.

“Ideally we’d work to leverage their strengths and their challenges and how we can support them,” Phaneuf said.

Focusing on what employees do well can help them best benefit the employee and employer. In the case of people with ADHD, when they “hyperfocus” on a task, they can be particularly productive. But things that hamper their ability to work should be addressed.

“Some accommodations are just conversations with supervisors and more directions or breaking down

assignments into actionable steps with more check-ins,” Phaneuf said. “Balancing staff style with supervisor style is really helpful. Supporting staff and understanding the access they have to technology makes a difference, as does helping them understand how those features work to their advantage like calendar reminders and apps.”

Training supervisors on leading people who have ADHD matters as well. They may need to follow up with staff more instead of saying, “I need this done in three weeks” and then asking for it in three weeks or longer.

“Accommodations can look very different for each person,” said Sarah Blaas-Towsley, Liberty Resources’ head of human resources. “As we know, one person with ADHD will not mirror another person’s needs. We look from an employee’s standpoint to engage in an interactive process around understanding what the needs are and balance with the program and role’s requirements, having this end goal of knowing what a position needs.

“Some managers have a standard way of training people. It’s proven successful. Really, helping the supervisor take a step back and realize that might not be how a particular person needs. That’s where interactive communication comes in.”

Sometimes, that includes discussing strategies that have worked in the past, such as flexible work arrangements

or technology that can supplement the needs of any employee.

People with ADHD do not have to disclose their diagnosis. However, Blaas-Towsley said that it’s helpful, as it gives understanding.

“There have been a couple cases I’ve been involved in where an individual said background noise was a challenge to their success,” Blaas-Towsley said.

Noise canceling headphones and moving the employee to a quieter workspace helped them improve their productivity. For other employees, dictation software enable them to speak ideas rather than enter them manually into digital form.

Organization or prioritization problems often benefit from more checkins from a supervisor and apps that can keep information handy and map out how the day will go.

“A supervisor may help them map out their day for five minutes each morning,” Blaas-Towsley said. “That can help them manage those priorities. We try to take a strength-based approach with everybody. That helps normalize the conversation around neurodiversity. It’s just part of who we are and what we do.”

Phaneuf added, “We say, ‘Once you meet a person with ADHD, you’ve met one person with ADHD.’ It’s not the breadth of what ADHD means. Our approach is person-centered.”

INVESTMENT& RETIREMENT

• Tariffs: How They Work and Potential Economic Effects

• The Uneasy Peace: Why Life After Work Can Be Hard for High Achievers

• Should You Invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts?

• Retiring with Your HAS

‘The full economic impact will depend on how the tariff program plays out — how much is intended as a negotiating tool and how much turns into longterm policy.’

ILaurie Haelen

Tariffs: How They Work and Potential Economic Effects

t has been a few years since tariffs have been a daily presence in the headlines. This year certainly has brought them to the forefront. As a result, many investors may be confused about the purpose and effectiveness of tariffs.

Guest Columnist

As of this writing in early April, markets are experiencing volatility as a result of higher-than-expected tariffs being imposed by the U. S. on many trading partners, creating fears of inflation and even recession.

Here is a brief primer on tariffs and the possible effects on the global economy.

A tariff is a tax on a particular class of imported goods or services that is typically designed to help protect domestic industries from foreign competition. However, the Trump administration is also using tariffs as leverage for other goals.

The U.S. company might then absorb all or part of the additional cost or pass it to consumers who buy products made from the steel. Alternately, the foreign steel exporter might lower its prices in order to maintain access to the U.S. market, in which case the U.S. company would still pay the 25% tariff, but the total price would not rise by the full 25% over the pre-tariff price.

The other factor in this equation, which is the traditional purpose of tariffs, is that the U.S. importer might buy steel from a U.S. manufacturer, thus avoiding the extra tax. The questions then are: 1) Will the U.S. manufacturer raise its price because it no longer has to compete with cheaper foreign imports? 2) Will there be enough U.S.manufactured steel to meet demand?

LAURIE HAELEN, AIF (accredited investment fiduciary), is senior vice president, manager of investment and financial planning solutions, CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. She can be reached at 585-419-0670, ext. 41970 or by email at lhaelen@cnbank.com.

Although the U.S. Constitution specifically grants Congress the power to levy tariffs (also called duties), Congress has delegated much of that authority to the president over the last 90 years. This has led to numerous trade agreements that have created a low-tariff, rulesbased global trading structure, with tariffs applied on selected products. Over the past 70 years, tariffs have seldom accounted for more than 2% of federal revenue and were just 1.57% in fiscal year 2024. Prior to the recent actions, about 70% of all foreign goods entered the United States duty-free, according to Congressional Research Service on Jan. 31.

Tariffs are collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at U.S. ports of entry. The tariff is paid by the U.S. company or individual who imports the goods. Put simply, if a U.S. company imports $1 million of foreign steel with a 25% tariff, that steel costs the company an additional $250,000 for a total of $1.25 million.

There have been numerous studies of the 2018-19 tariffs, which were not as restrictive as the new program but offer some possible answers to these questions.

Almost all of the steel and aluminum tariff costs in 2018-19 were passed directly to U.S. companies in the form of prices that rose by about 22% and 8% respectively. However, many foreign producers received exemptions from the tariffs and U.S. steel and aluminum production — which represented more than two-thirds of the U.S. market before the tariffs — grew moderately to meet demand, rising by an annual average of $2.8 billion over the period from 2018 to 2021. Even so, companies that had depended on cheaper imported metal struggled and overall production of goods that use steel and aluminum decreased by an annual average of $3.4 billion, according to U.S. International Trade Commission in May 2023.

U.S. importers also bore near the full cost of the broader tariffs on Chinese goods but generally passed

only part of the costs to consumers, according to National Bureau of Economic Research in October 2019. However, a separate tariff on washing machines added $86 to the retail price of a washing machine and $92 to the price of a dryer, ultimately costing consumers over $1.5 billion, according to a study in 2019 by the University of Chicago.

Broadly, a 2024 analysis found that the 2018–19 tariffs (many continued by the Biden administration), combined with retaliatory tariffs by other countries, reduced U.S. gross domestic product by a little more than 0.2% and cost about 169,000 full-time jobs, according to the Tax Foundation on Feb. 13.

Trump has also ordered a study of reciprocal tariffs, which would set tariffs based dollar-for-dollar on the tariffs each country charges on U.S. goods, as well as nontariff trade barriers. As with most issues related

to tariffs, there are differing opinions on this. At best, reciprocal tariffs could lead to negotiating lower tariffs and removing barriers that prevent U.S. businesses from operating in a foreign country. At worst, they could lead to a global trade war, with ever-increasing tariffs and barriers, according to a Feb 13 report in The Wall Street Journal.

Along with the 10% tariff on Chinese goods, Trump excluded China from the de minimis provision of U.S. customs law that exempts goods valued at less than $800. This would make cheap goods from Chinese online retailers, which are often shipped directly to consumers, subject to existing tariffs plus the new 10% tariff. The exclusion was suspended recently to give the U.S. Postal Service and Customs and Border Protection time to develop a plan to collect the tariffs. It’s unclear how this change will affect consumer

prices, but processing could slow delivery times, according to a Feb. 5 AP News report.

Inflation

Most economists believe that tariffs cause inflation and President Trump admitted there might be shortterm price increases. The potential for tariff-driven inflation is of particular concern in the current economy; two recent surveys show a significant decline in consumer confidence due to inflation fears, according to news report. The full economic impact will depend on how the tariff program plays out — how much is intended as a negotiating tool and how much turns into long-term policy. For now, it would be wise to maintain a steady course and keep an eye on further developments.

REIT All About It Should you

invest in real estate investment trusts?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Real estate investment trusts are businesses that own and possibly operate real estate for rent or lease or hold mortgages. Investors outside of these businesses can buy shares of a REIT, typically on conventional stock exchanges. People will always need to rent or buy real estate, which makes investing in a REIT seem like a safe way to invest. However, REITs also have a few drawbacks.

Randy Zeigler, certified financial planner and private wealth adviser in Oswego with Ameriprise, offered a few pros and cons of investing in REITs:

PROS:

• “REITs can diversify an already well-developed stock and bond portfolio by adding commercial real estate positions.

• “Commercial real estate has historically provided solid inflation hedging capability over time.

• “There are several sectors within

the real estate marketplace (i.e. office buildings, multi-family housing, malls, strip-plazas, health-oriented research, warehouse and logistics, etc.), so investors can choose the specific sectors that interest them or best fit their portfolio structure and risk level.

• “Income-oriented REITs often pay quarterly dividends.

• “Growth-oriented real estate portfolios may not pay regular dividends but may generate shareholder growth over time.

• “There are traded and non-traded REITs. Investing in early-stage, non-traded REIT portfolios may provide the opportunity to participate in the initial development of the portfolio but often carry greater risks as the portfolio is not fully specified, so the investor may know the real estate sector but not the exact properties into which the portfolio will be invested.”

CONS:

• “Real estate properties are longterm investments by design and the

closing costs are expensive so it usually pays to plan for long-term investing with these types of assets.

• “Equity assets usually do not carry any return guarantees and investors can lose principal with equity assets.

• “Traded REITs are individual stock positions which will fluctuate in value, often on a daily basis, but they are typically liquid investments.

• “Non-traded REITs are often illiquid until the real estate sponsor decides to sell the portfolio assets, unless they have a shareholder redemption program in place.”

Dave Treichler, chartered financial planner and financial adviser with Arabella Wealth Advisors in Syracuse, also offered a few pros and cons:

PROS:

• “REITs can be a good way to diversify your portfolio.

• “REIT exposure for people using index funds in 2025 is already approxi-

mately 2.71% in the S&P 500, S&P Mid Cap 400 10.88, S&P Small Cap 600 7.78.

• “REITs should be considered long-term investments. There are a variety of REIT mutual funds and REITs trading daily.

CONS:

• “Interval funds, while less liquidity (generally offering quarterly liquidity), but can offer possible higher distribution rates. Non publicly traded REITs, many have no upfront commission, but do have a surrender schedule, some waive the surrender fee upon death or disability. Higher distribution rate means even less liquidity.

• “Both interval funds and non-publicly traded REITs may be subject to accredited investor rules and regulations or income and asset minimum requirements.”

A trusted, qualified financial adviser can help guide decisions about investing based upon your individual circumstances, stage in life and financial goals.

RETIREMENT + INVESTING

THE UNEASY PEACE: WHY LIFE AFTER WORK CAN BE HARD FOR HIGH ACHIEVERS

By Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons Special For Oswego County Business

Retirement.

The word itself conjures images of leisurely pursuits, freedom from deadlines and the long-awaited opportunity to finally enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. For many, it represents the ultimate reward for decades of hard work and dedication.

Yet, for high-achieving professionals, the transition into this supposedly idyllic phase of life can often be fraught with unexpected challenges, anxieties and a surprising sense of unease. The very traits that propelled them to the

pinnacle of their careers can paradoxically make the absence of work a difficult and disorienting experience.

This article, drawing from insights in my book “Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement,” delves into the multifaceted reasons why life after work can be harder than anticipated for those who have spent their lives striving and achieving.

One of the primary reasons for this difficulty lies in the profound loss of identity that retirement can trigger. For high achievers, their professional

roles often become inextricably linked to their sense of self-worth. They identify strongly with their titles, their accomplishments and the communities they inhabit through their work, tending to conflate who they are with what they do and what they have achieved.

Howard Marks, a successful lawyer, exemplifies this. His impending retirement felt like “the end of Howard” because he had become so identified with his career and related achievements. The prestige of their firm, the ability to deliver superior results under pressure and the validation from positive feedback all contribute to a robust self-concept built upon professional success. The sudden absence of this framework can leave a void, making them question, “Who will I be if I’m not what I do?” The “illustrious law firm” or the “billion-dollar deals” they once closed become irrelevant in their new context, as the author herself experienced after leaving her demanding legal career.

This loss of identity is often compounded by the anxiety surrounding the very concept of retirement. Despite years of diligently saving and planning, many high achievers find themselves feeling a “gnawing dread” as retirement approaches. This anxiety is often fueled by the negative connotations associated with the word “retire,” which in Middle French meant “to withdraw or pull back.”

Modern definitions continue this theme of retreat, offering no sense of forward motion or expansion. This paints a picture of decline rather than opportunity, leading to what I refer to as “retirement anxiety.” Research even suggests that retiring from a career is only slightly less stressful than being diagnosed with a serious illness or being incarcerated. This level of stress stems from the threatened losses of identity, community, structure and purpose —

Author Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons.

losses that money alone cannot solve. Like Jim, one of my early clients, many feel like they are “running toward the edge of a cliff” with no clear vision of what awaits them.

Furthermore, the highly structured and demanding nature of their previous careers often leaves high achievers illequipped to navigate the unchartered territory of abundant free time. They are accustomed to time scarcity, where every moment is accounted for and productivity is paramount. As one client put it, “We sell our availability for a living.”

Decades of hypervigilance and constant responsiveness have become an ingrained way of life. The sudden release from these pressures can be disorienting, leading to a swing between frantic busyness and profound boredom. The “appalling thought of free time” arises because they lack the internal organizing principles that their work once provided.

Andrew, a retired investment banker, found himself aimlessly wandering into his home office, “frittering the time away because I don’t know where else to be or what else to do.” Without the familiar rhythm of deadlines and demands, their well-honed time management skills feel obsolete and creating a new structure can be a daunting task.

The fulfillment of their primary career purpose also presents a unique challenge. For many high achievers, their professional lives have been driven by the purpose of providing for their families and building financial security. Retirement signifies the achievement of these long-term goals, yet this very fulfillment can lead to an existential questioning: “If I no longer need to work, what will get me out of bed in the morning?” is a common refrain.

The drive for success that once energized them now seems to have been fulfilled, leaving a void in their sense of purpose. As Ann Lamott’s father, Kenneth, astutely observed, “A life oriented to pure leisure is, in the end, a life oriented to death — the greatest leisure of all.” High achievers, by their very nature, are driven individuals who seek meaning and contribution and pure idleness rarely satisfies this deep-seated need.

Adding to this complexity is the paradox of choice. Faced with an abundance of time and resources, retirees might expect to feel liberated. However, the sheer number of possibilities can be overwhelming, leading to intellectual paralysis and indecision. Without a clear

path or a defined set of objectives, they can struggle to choose a direction, much like being overwhelmed by too many flavors at a gelato shop. Furthermore, many high achievers find themselves lacking positive role models for this new phase of life. They may have witnessed colleagues or mentors who retired poorly, entering a rapid decline or experiencing a loss of purpose. These negative examples can fuel their anxieties and make it difficult to envision a fulfilling post-work life.

John, a tech executive, lamented “I don’t have any role models for retiring well” after witnessing his mentor’s isolation in retirement.

The ingrained mindsets that fueled their professional success can also become obstacles in retirement. They are accustomed to a “success” mindset, constantly measuring themselves against external benchmarks like income, accolades and power. The competitive environments they thrived in often fostered a need for constant achievement and the fear of being overtaken. Retirement removes these external scorecards, requiring a shift towards internal measures of fulfillment and contribution.

Similarly, their “expert” mindset, characterized by mastery and competence, can make the idea of trying new things and being a novice feel uncomfortable. The “reactor” mindset, honed by years of responding to immediate demands and crises, needs to evolve into a “creator” mindset, where they proactively choose their engagements based on personal interest and purpose.

Overcoming these challenges requires intentional planning and a shift in perspective. Retirement should be reframed not as an ending but as a “graduation” into new opportunities. High achievers need to actively explore and reconnect with the enduring aspects of their identity beyond their careers. They must identify new sources of meaning and engagement that align with their values and skills, moving beyond default ideas that are merely adjacent to their former professions. Engaging in activities they find intrinsically motivating, rather than seeking external validation, becomes crucial.

Building a new structure for their time is also essential. This involves experimenting with proactive annual planning, establishing positive routines and habits, and utilizing tools like batching and delegation for less fulfilling tasks. The focus should shift from managing time as a scarce resource

to understanding “time sovereignty,” where time is an abundant resource to be used intentionally.

Furthermore, maintaining and cultivating social connections is vital for emotional well-being and can help replace the community lost through work.

Finally, adopting a mindset of realistic optimism and relaxed determination can aid in navigating the uncertainties of retirement. Embracing the journey with curiosity and a willingness to experiment, while also allowing for patience and perseverance, is key. As I always emphasize, it is about “enjoying the ride” and finding meaning and satisfaction in the present moment.

In conclusion, while retirement is often portrayed as a period of effortless bliss, the reality for high-achieving professionals can be more complex. The loss of identity, the anxiety surrounding the transition, the challenge of unstructured time, the fulfillment of their primary purpose, the paradox of choice, the lack of role models and the need to shed ingrained mindsets all contribute to making life after work a potentially difficult adjustment.

However, by acknowledging these challenges, engaging in thoughtful planning, redefining their identities and purpose, creating new structures, nurturing relationships and embracing a positive and determined outlook, high achievers can navigate this transition and design a new chapter of life that is not just restful, but also meaningful, engaging and ultimately, deeply fulfilling.

Author Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons, J.D., is a retirement transition expert, lawyer and co-founder of two consulting firms, Zelinka Parsons and Encoraco. A magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and summa cum laude graduate of James Madison University, she has spent more than two decades shaping professional development and transition strategies for legal professionals. A former attorney at Milbank, she built a national consulting firm assisting AmLaw 100 firms with talent solutions. Author of “Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement “ (Feb. 5, 2025), she combines analytical rigor with creative vision to help professionals redefine retirement as a dynamic opportunity for growth and fulfillment. Learn more at encoraco.com.

Retiring with Your HAS What should you do with your health savings account?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Health savings accounts allow policyholders to designate dollars tax-free for health expenses not covered by their high-deductible health insurance plan.

Depending upon the plan, this could include things like over-thecounter medication like cough syrup, supplies such as adhesive bandages and durable medical goods like canes or hand braces.

It may also include co-pays and bills for out-of-network medical services when the policyholder needs to see a specialist not in the plan.

The employee, employer or both, supply money to the fund, which the employee owns. Any unused funds roll over to the next year. Upon retirement, account holders can roll them into an IRA.

But should you?

Randy Zeigler, certified financial planner and private wealth adviser in Oswego with Ameriprise, typically says to leave the funds alone upon retirement. You might need them.

“Since healthcare expenses are a significant ongoing expense for many retirees, I usually recommend that my clients retain their HSA account balanc-

es and just pay all of their unreimbursed medical and dental costs from their HSA until it is exhausted,” Zeigler said.

A study by Vanguard Research and Mercer Health and Benefits states that a 65-year-old woman typically pays $3,300 to $7,700 annually for premiums and out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision costs. People with chronic health conditions or who suffer an extreme, acute health problem can expect to pay much more.

Typically, this can include things such as over-the-counter medication and first aid items; copays and non-reimbursed medical care such as using an out-of-network provider. Many drug stores’ shelf tags indicate items that qualify. However, policyholders should consult with their specific plan inclusions before making purchases. It’s also important to retain receipts related to these purchases in case the nature of the purchase is questioned later.

Keeping the HSA can help people who have a lot of unreimbursed costs. Think of it as a way to “grow old” with your HSA. It’s a popular notion, keeping the HSA for health-related expenses instead of rolling it into an IRA.

“In retirement, you can continue

using your HSA for qualified medical expenses, including long term care premiums,” said Dave Treichler, chartered financial planner and financial adviser with Arabella Wealth Advisors in Syracuse.

But if your health needs are few and you’d rather use the money elsewhere in your life for a more immediate need, you can do that instead. Keep in mind that you won’t do so for free.

“After age 65 you can withdraw for any reason, though nonmedical expenses are subject to a 20% penalty,” Treichler said. “As planning tip, you can make a one-time IRA rollover to your HSA account, $4,300 single and $8,550 for family coverage.”

He also encourages people to “name a beneficiary. It keeps funds out of probate and spouses receive the HSA tax free; non-spouse benefits are taxable.”

Before deciding what to do with your HSA funds, discuss your financial situation with a qualified financial adviser. Every person’s financial picture is different and an adviser can provide detailed input specific to the account holder’s financial goals.

SUCCESS STORY

Mimi’s Drive-In in Fulton: Mainstreet Mainstay

Third-generation owner introducing changes while keeping intact what has worked for so many years

By Tom and Jerry Caraccioli

For the last 55 years, cars traveling on the eastside of Fulton heading to Oswego or coming from the Port City have undoubtedly seen Mimi’s Drive-In.

Whether or not those drivers have ever stopped to eat at the fabled diner, Mimi’s Drive-In in Fulton, is the symbol of bygone days.

When readers of this magazine think of a “drive-in,” no doubt the images of the 1950s with Fonzi, Richie, Ralph Malph and Potsie sitting in a booth at Arnold’s on the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days” comes to mind. While teenage hijinks and fun were the main dishes at Arnold’s, Mimi’s Drive-In, located at 201 N. Second St., is a family-owned and operated establishment that has been serving favorite American comfort food for more than half-a-century.

The original business, owned by Elwanda and Loren Duell, began as an ice cream stand in Mexico in the late 1950s and early ‘60s.

George Sachel bought it from the Duells in 1970. Local old-timers tell the story about how the establishment’s name came to be. Legend has it when

George met his wife, he told her if she married him, he would put her name in lights.

She did. And he did — three times — starting with a Mimi’s Drive-In in Mexico, then opening two more — in Oswego and Fulton. Fulton’s Mimi’s is the only one left.

Today, current owner Richard Tagliareni, the grandson of George and Mimi, continues as the third generation of family to uphold the Mimi’s tradition with classic favorites and new menu items that are worthy of an episode on Guy Fieri’s current Food Network show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

“It was my grandfather that started the business,” Tagliareni said. “His son, Chris, took it over after. Now, since my uncle retired, I’m taking it over. We’re engrained in the community. We’re a staple and hold that up on a pedestal. We cater to the community and are very involved in everything from the schools to local events. Whenever something is going on in the community, Mimi’s is there for them.”

For regulars who have been patronizing the famed, local diner, the menu is

what keeps them coming back.

Featuring all-day breakfast, burgers and sandwiches for lunch, Mimi’s is most famous for its homemade chicken and biscuits at dinnertime. Patrons also enjoy generous helpings of homemade chicken parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, prime rib, thick cut boneless pork chops and more.

Recently, new additions like the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich and Mimi’s Smash Burger with cheese, sautéed onions and house burger sauce complement homespun favorite melts — Mimi’s Meatloaf Melt, Roast Beef Melt, Pot Roast Melt, Honey BBQ Chicken Melt, Smokehouse Turkey & Bacon Melt, Doubly Pork Melt and Chicken Parm Melt.

“Nostalgia and great food,” Deborah Cash, who has been a waitress at Mimi’s for 20 years, said when answering what brings people back.

“The waitresses,” one of her colleagues also offered with a wink.

“There’s no place like Mimi’s,” Cash continued. “It’s like home. We do our best to make people feel like this is home. Everybody loves to come here.

We make everyone feel at home. This is an ‘old-fashioned’ diner and everyone here is special.”

And while the staff rarely forgets a name, they never forget an order. “We know just about everyone’s name but, more importantly, we know exactly what they eat,” Cash said. “There are people that come in and we ask them — ‘You want your usual?’ We bend over backwards to make sure people get what they want. We go the extra mile.”

Tagliareni added, “It’s our friendly atmosphere, our waitresses. We do whatever we can to take care of the customers by going above and beyond in trying to accommodate our guests.”

Despite some changes, Tagliareni is certain the same core reasons people have been coming back since 1970 will be the reasons they continue for the next 50-plus years.

“We’re in the process of converting our menu boards over to digital TV screens,” Tagliareni explained. “People will be able to see pictures of our specials. That is something neat that will

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.”

be happening soon. We’re not opposed to new ideas, but we also don’t want to mess with what has worked for so many years. We’re really glad to be in the Fulton community and Oswego County. The county has been good to us. And we’ve been good to them. We take that seriously.”

While Mimi’s Drive-In will never feature someone on a motorcycle jumping over steel drum garbage cans in its parking lot for publicity, the famed Fulton establishment doesn’t have to. The drive-in featuring the name of George Sachel’s wife in lights is an institution.

The Other Side of the Family Serves the Public Too

When Richard Tagliareni’s great-grandfather from his father’s side of the family, Charles Giovo, emigrated to the United States from Genoa, Italy, he brought with him a family recipe that today serves as a connection to the traditions of the old country.

“My father’s mom was a Giovo in Mexico, New York, and they owned and operated a soda fountain,” Tagliareni said. “The bloodlines of both sides of my family are in the service and restaurant industry.”

Tagliareni went on to explain how his great-grandfather’s peanut brittle recipe became a community favorite and a part of his family’s tradition that he holds dear.

“My great-grandfather had a special recipe for peanut brittle (Old Charlie’s Homestyle Peanut Brittle) and he would go around Mexico and make it out of the back of his garage. They would sell it in the community and people loved it. It is a special recipe.”

Today, Tagliareni and members of his family gather in the fall of the year and honor their great-grandfather by making a batch of peanut brittle that the current owner of Mimi’s proudly offers.

“I look forward to honoring my family’s legacy by continuing a family tradition,” he said. “I sell it at Mimi’s during the holidays.”

Richard Tagliareni is the owner of Mimi’s Drive-Inthe grandson of George and Mimi who started the business more than 50 years ago.

Waitress Deborah Cash: Working at Mimi’s for 20 Years

Q: What brings people back to Mimi’s?

Deborah Cash: Nostalgia and great food. (as one of her colleagues also offered “the waitresses.”) There’s no place like Mimi’s, it’s like home. We do our best to make people feel like this is home. Everybody loves to come here. We make everyone feel at home here. This is an ‘old-fashioned’ diner here. Everyone here is special. We, all us waitresses, make it special. We know just about everyone’s name but, more importantly, we know exactly what they eat. There are people that come in and we ask them — ‘You want your usual?’ We bend over backwards to make sure people get what they want. We go the extra mile.

Q: Would you call Mimi’s an institution in Fulton?

Deborah Cash: It’s the heartbeat of Fulton. Everybody that comes in says, ‘My grandmother used to bring me and I have such nice memories of being here.’ We send flowers to customers that have passed away, we’ve held benefits for people in need and Fulton is a wonderful town. When we were shut down for COVID a few years back, the town of Fulton made sure we stayed here. It makes me tear up thinking about it. We had people coming in here three times a day for ‘to go’ orders to keep us going. The town of Fulton made sure we were here because they love this place just as much as the people who work here do.

Q: Do you source local vendors for food items?

Deborah Cash: Yes, we get all our strawberries local for our strawberry

shortcake. Mimi’s tries to do the very best we can to buy locally and do that.

Third Generation Owner, Richard Tagliareni

Q: Why do people like Mimi’s? Richard Tagliareni: It’s our friendly atmosphere, our waitresses, we do whatever we can to take care of the customers. We go above and beyond and just try to accommodate our guests. I am the third generation. My uncle, Chris Sachel, just retired. He’s still the owner but I’m taking over and running the operation.

Q: Do you source local vendors for specialty items?

A: We do when we can. We get our produce from C’s Farms in Oswego. Some farms are local and we use them when we can. In the summertime we make a fresh strawberry shortcake and we use strawberries that come from local farms.

Q: What do you like best about Mimi’s?

A: I like the fast-paced environment. I like cooking. And I enjoy being around our customers.

Q: What makes Mimi’s so special and where do you think you’ll be in 50 years?

A: We’re just so engrained in the community. We’re a staple and hold that up on a pedestal. We cater to the community and are very involved in everything from the schools to local events. Whenever something is going on in the community, Mimi’s is there for them.

Q: What are some of the changes you have invoked to put your signature on the business?

A: We’re in the process of converting our menu boards over to digital TV screens. That will be coming in the future. People will be able to see pictures of our specials. That is something neat that will be happening soon. We’re not opposed to new ideas but we also don’t want to mess with what has worked right for so many years. We’re really glad to be in the Fulton community and Oswego County. The county has been good to us and we’ve been good to them. We take that seriously.

Q: What are your thoughts on the next 50 years?

A: In the next 50 years we want to continue to grow and keep doing what we’ve been doing.

Mimi’s waitresses Trea Hooker, Deborah Cash (center) and Chelsie Austin.

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BEST BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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.

EXCAVATING

Gilbert Excavating. Gravel & topsoil. Septic tank pumping. 685 County Route 3, Fulton, 13069. Call 315593-2472 or visit www.gilbertexcavating.net.

GLASS REPAIR

Fulton Glass. Storefronts and Glass repair. Over 50 years serving Oswego County. FultonGlass.net 315593-7913.

KILN-DRIED HARDWOODS

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).

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.

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.

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. 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 Stefan Yablonski

ROOTS ROLL-OFF PROFESSIONALS, PULASKI

NEW DUMPSTER BUSINESS ALREADY CLEANING UP

Q: How did this all start?

A: Roots Roll-Off Professionals was born out of a dream — a dream to build something meaningful for our family, to serve our community with pride and to leave behind a legacy that would last for generations. We knew we wanted to serve our community. We just weren’t sure what that was going to look like at first. We explored a few different options before finally settling on the dumpster business.

Q: What service do you provide?

A: My wife, Kim, and I started this business with a clear mission: provide professional, fair, upfront and reliable dumpster rental services while giving back to the people and places that raised us.

Q: Is this what you always wanted to do?

A: Deep down, I always knew I was meant to be an entrepreneur. It’s in my

blood. My grandfather owned and ran a diner for many years, my dad owned a waterbed store in Syracuse many years ago and my uncle, a successful entrepreneur with his own CPA firm (among other ventures), has been a key part of our early planning and guidance. His support and experience helped us navigate those early decisions that made all the difference.

Q: What did you do before this?

A: I worked as an electrical maintenance supervisor at the nuclear power plant. My wife still works there in security access.

Q: What did you invest to get started?

A: With $150,000 in personal investment and another $200,000 in business loans, we put everything on the line — not just to start a business, but to build a future.

Q: How has the response been?

A: We’ve only been in business [since March 17] and the response has already exceeded all expectations. We’re currently operating with 14 dumpsters and two trucks and we’ve been sold out on multiple occasions — with more dumpsters already on the way to meet the demand.

Q: So you’re looking at expanding already?

A: Our journey is just getting started. We’re not only committed to growing our fleet, but also expanding into new locations in the near future. We want to make Roots Roll-Off Professionals a name that stands for quality, integrity and community — everywhere we go. This is more than just a business. It’s our family’s future. It’s our way of giving back. And it’s only the beginning.

For more information, call 315-7083320 or visit https://rootsrolloff.com.

Joseph Wormworth and Max in front of a truck owned by his company, Roots Roll-Off Professionals.

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THE UPSTATE ADVANTAGE

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Oswego County Business, #197: May-June 2025

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