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  • Examination Date: 10/19/2019 Last Date To File: 08/28/2019

  • Broome County Legislature Introduces “Daylight Legislation”

    Broome County Legislature Chairman Daniel J. Reynolds introduced a Local Law, which would amend the Broome County Charter and Code to require greater financial reporting and transparency for the public.

    “The Legislature is charged with oversight of County finances and the best way to ensure that taxpayers’ money is being spent wisely is to have accurate and up-to-date information Unfortunately, the Administration hasn’t always been as open and transparent with County finances as we would have hoped,” said Chairman Daniel J. Reynolds. “This proposal will provide the Legislature with a lot of helpful information, while also making it more readily available and accessible to the public.”

    The Local Law proposed by the Legislature requires that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) report quarterly to the County Legislature on revenues and expenditures, fund balance, trust account activity, outstanding capital projects and changes to county personnel as well as asset inventory, including vehicles and equipment.

    “Having this information on a recurring basis and not having to wait until budget season or the end of the fiscal year will make a world of difference in keeping Legislators informed as we make decisions,” said Majority Leader and Finance Committee Chair Stephen J. Flagg.  “We’ve been working on obtaining this information since last summer and we’re pleased to see that the New York State Comptroller agreed and said in his recent audit report of County finances ‘that more financial information would provide more opportunity for oversight’.”

    There is also a provision within the Local Law that requires that the County Legislature publish these reports on the County website after they’ve been received by the Director of OMB, so they may be accessible to anyone who is interested in viewing them.

    “County taxpayers should be able to easily find and obtain information about how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent,” said Chairman Reynolds. “Having this information on our website will allow for greater transparency in county government and everyone should be in support of shedding more light on how county government operates.”

    The Local Law will be considered tomorrow by the County Administration and Finance Committees and if voted out of committee, it will be considered by the full Legislature at its regular March Legislative Session, which will be held Thursday, March 15th.

  • Office for Aging Presentation for Family Caregivers: Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior

    Contact:  Judy Bobinski

    Caregiver Specialist

    (607) 778-2411

    jbobinski@co.broome.ny.us

     

    An Informative Presentation for Family Caregivers: Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior

    Family caregivers are invited to attend a presentation on Tuesday, February 19 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM atBroome West Senior Center, 2801 Wayne Street in Endwell.  “Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior” will be presented by staff from the Central NY Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

    During the middle stage of dementia, the person with the disease often starts to exhibit new behaviors that can be confusing for a caregiver. These behaviors are a form of communication and are essential to understanding the needs of the person with dementia. This presentation teaches caregivers how to decipher these behaviors as well as the best ways to respond.

    Topics of discussion include how to identify common triggers for behaviors associated with dementia, the process for assessing and identifying challenging behaviors, and strategies to address some common dementia-related behaviors.

    Pre-registration is requested; please call (607) 778- 2411 to reserve your seat.

    What: “Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior”

    When:  Tuesday, February 19 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM

    Where:  Broome West Senior Center, 2801 Wayne Street, Endwell

    Who:  For all Family Caregivers

  • January is Radon Action Month

    January is Radon Action Month

    Broome County Health Department Offering Free Radon Kits

    (BINGHAMTON, NY) –Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and causes thousands of cancer deaths each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    Increasing public awareness is the focus of Radon Action Month in January. This month is the time to test, fix and save a life.

    Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that seeps into your home typically through the basement. Radon gas is heavy and will pool in the lower level of homes but can be found anywhere in a building. Radioactive particles enter the lungs and potentially can cause cancer.

    It is important to test your home for radon, especially if you live in a high-risk area and/or spend large amounts of time in basement areas. Broome County is among many other counties in New York that are deemed high risk for radon by the New York State Department of Health.

    Testing is as simple as leaving the kit in a specific area for a set number of days and returning it to a testing facility. Results are generally available within one to two weeks.

    Once detected, homes with high levels of radon can easily be made safe. The Broome County Health Department can discuss radon test results and offer suggestions on possible mitigation measures.

    As a part of National Radon Action Month, the Broome County Health Department is offering free radon testing kits. Radon kits can be picked up at the Health Department at 225 Front St., Binghamton, NY 13905. Kits will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

    For more information about radon, visit the Broome County Health Department’s Division of Environmental Health website at broomecountyny.gov/eh/radon or the New York State Department of Health website at www.health.ny.gov

  • Assemblywoman Lupardo and County Executive Garnar Recognizes TechWorks! for Top Computer Conservation Award

    TechWorks! honored for receiving top computer conservation award
    Local museum recognized for preservation of Link Trainers

     

    (BINGHAMTON, NY) – Three historic Link Aviation trainers have helped one local museum land the world’s premier computer conservation award. The Center for Technology and Innovation, also known as TechWorks!, is the recipient of the 2018 Tony Sale Award (TSA) for computer conservation for its project to restore three generations of flight simulators. Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and Broome County Executive recognized TechWorks! for its achievement at the Broome County Office Building on Thursday.

    “The team at TechWorks! is doing a terrific job to preserve our region’s history of innovation,” said Assemblywoman Lupardo. “The restoration of these simulators enable visitors to the museum to not just learn about the Link legacy, but actually experience it. This award is well-deserved and should be celebrated by the entire community.”

    “This award demonstrates the power of partnerships and the team at TechWorks! is nothing short of incredible,” said County Executive Garnar. “Broome County is proud to be the home to Techworks! and very grateful for the history and experiences they provide at the museum in Binghamton.”

    Hundreds of thousands of pilots from World War II and on were trained on flight simulators (commonly known as the “Blue Box”) produced by Binghamton’s Link Aviation. TechWorks! successfully restored three original simulators, including a World War II-era analog flight trainer, a 1960s solid-state hardware version, and a 1980s digital simulator.

    “The Tony Sale Award recognizes the dedication of three teams -from SUNY Broome, the Watson School, and Link veterans,” said TechWorks! Executive Director Susan Sherwood. “The teams began work in 2006 to bring three generations of flight simulation computing – mechanical, analog, and digital – back to life for TechWorks! Visitors get a real feel for the consequences of their actions – learning that eyes on the instruments and a gentle touch on the controls will result in a smooth flight and safe landing. These projects launched students’ careers, helping them land jobs at Anaren, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and elsewhere.”

    Established in 2012 in memory of computer conservation pioneer Tony Sale, who rebuilt Colossus, the World War II code-breaking computer, the award recognizes efforts around the world to save the transformative devices that led to today’s digital world.  The award is presented by Britain’s Computer Conservation Society and sponsored by Google UK.

  • Two Binghamton University Graduate Students’ Companies Awarded Broome County’s Student Entrepreneurship Grants

    (BINGHAMTON, NY) Broome County Executive Jason Garnar and Legislature Chairman Daniel J. Reynolds joined representatives from Binghamton University and the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator today to unveil the recipients of a countywide entrepreneurship grant program to fund student start-up businesses. 

    Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, “The Student Entrepreneurship Grant Program is another example of the power of partnerships in Broome County. Together with Binghamton University, SUNY Broome and the County Legislature, I am excited to support the development of young entrepreneurs as they bring vitality to our local economy and community.”

    “The Legislature is proud to support the Student Entrepreneurship Program here at Binghamton University,” said Legislature Chairman Dan J. Reynolds. “We look forward to seeing these young entrepreneurs succeed, their businesses grow, and the jobs they will hopefully create here within our community.”

    Working with students at Binghamton University and the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, Broome County created a program to address the ‘brain drain’ and foster the innovation economy. Members of the Broome County Department of Planning closely collaborated with University students to research and assess entrepreneurship grant programs that have been successful in other parts of the country. This was backed up by a survey of 667 students at Binghamton University and SUNY Broome, with results indicating that 80% would be interested in staying in the local area upon graduation if there was a countywide entrepreneurship grant program to fund student startups. 

    As the program developed, it was refined by the expertise and experience of the entrepreneurship professionals at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator.

    “Grant recipients are given more than a check, they are part of a comprehensive program that helps nurture their ideas into fully formed businesses,” said Frank Evangelisti, Director of Planning for Broome County.

    With funds from the Hotel-Motel Economic Development and Marketing fund, grants of $5,000 were awarded to the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator to be provided to two student-led firms. The two student-companies selected as grant recipients in 2018 were Enhance VR and AdamaDoll.

    Enhance VR is a company based on virtual reality that was founded by Matthew Gill, a Binghamton University electrical engineering master’s student in the Watson School of Engineering.

    AdamaDoll was founded by Binghamton University student Hazell McKenzie. McKenzie is currently pursuing her master’s degree in social work in the College of Community and Public Affairs. The company produces a specialized doll to assist children who may have suffered from abuse. The doll is designed to encourage open discussion to help the child feel less intimidated to provide information.  McKenzie was also a contestant on the Food Network’s show ‘The Worst Cooks of America’.

    Broome County is hoping to extend the program into 2019 with another of another round of funding for the Incubator to award these student entrepreneurship grants.

  • Broome County Departments Preparing for Winter Storm Expected 1/19-1/20

    Broome County Departments Preparing for Winter Storm

    NWS Binghamton Predicting 12-18 Inches of Snow Saturday into Sunday

    (TOWN OF DICKINSON, NY) Broome County leaders joined today at the Office of Emergency Services to discuss the county’s plan of action ahead of winter storm expected to impact the county this weekend.

    Among those in attendance included County Executive Jason Garnar, Sheriff David Harder, Michael Ponticiello, Director of Emergency Services, Susan Brown, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works – Highway Division as well as representatives from Broome Security and Office of Emergency Services.

    “Broome County is fully prepared to handle this weekend’s winter storm. Our top priority is making sure our residents are safe and the roads are clear and our county departments are working together to make that happen,” said Garnar.

    The latest report from the National Weather Service Friday afternoon indicated Broome County was expected to receive 12 to 18 inches of snowfall in this latest winter storm Saturday into Sunday. The combination of strong winds and heavy snow could cause scattered power outages and drifting snow. The snow could create poor travel conditions as roads become snow covered and slippery. 

    The Broome County Office of Emergency Services is in regular communication with the NWS Binghamton to monitor the incoming storm and sharing that information with partner agencies and municipalities in Broome County. The department is prepared to augment 911 and OES staff as needed. In addition, OES has been in direct contact with Broome County Department of Public Works, NYSDOT and NYSEG. 

    The County DPW’s Highway Division is responsible for the snow plowing of nearly 325 miles in the county. The total number of roads plowed is 102. 

    The Highway Division’s crews are preparing the equipment such as checking sanders, plow and wing blades, lights, etc. All trucks will be fueled and potentially loaded prior to the arrival of snowfall. Crews are prepared to work overtime, if needed, to clear the roads. 

    Broome County Sheriff David Harder said his deputies will be out in full force patrolling the county. The Sheriff said if you must travel, make sure you allow extra time, at least ½ tank gas in your vehicle and a fully charged cell phone. In the event of an emergency, residents should call 911. If you are in an accident, stay in your vehicle and wait for help. 

    Broome County encourages residents to monitor the weather forecast and road conditions frequently. A helpful tool to stay informed is NY Alert. You can register at NYAlert.gov. 

  • Valentine’s Day Luncheon at Senior Centers

    Everyone is invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day at a participating local senior center. The celebration begins around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 14th.  

    All guests will enjoy chicken cordon bleu, baby red potatoes, monte carlo blend vegetables and red velvet pie cups for dessert.  In addition to lunch, the following centers have scheduled special entertainment: Broome West Senior Center will celebrate with harpist, Ted Davenport.  Eastern Broome Senior Center will enjoy a performance by singer and guitarist Greg Neff, and North Shore Towers Community Center will host a historical presentation on downtown Binghamton by Bill Tomic.  Therapy Quartet will perform live music at the Vestal Senior Center. 

    Anyone who is interested in attending the celebration will need to make a reservation by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13th by calling the center he or she plans to attend. Lunch is a suggested contribution of $4.25 for those ages 60+ and their spouse of any age, and a charge of $5.25 for anyone under age 60. 

     

    Broome West Senior Center                           785-1777         2801 Wayne St., Endwell

    Deposit Senior Center (reserve by 2/12/19)   467-3953         14 Monument St., Deposit

    Eastern Broome Senior Center                       693-2069         27 Golden Ln., Harpursville

    First Ward Senior Center                                729-6214         226 Clinton St., Binghamton

    Johnson City Senior Center                            797-1149         30 Brocton St., Johnson City

    North Shore Towers Community Center        772-6214         24 Isbell St., Binghamton

    Northern Broome Senior Center                     692-3405         12 Strongs Pl., Whitney Point

    Vestal Senior Center                                       754-9596         201 Main St., Vestal

     

    Those age 60+ and their spouse of any age will not be denied service due to an inability or unwillingness to contribute. 

     

    What: “Valentine’s Day Luncheon at Senior Centers”

    When: Thursday, February 14th, around 11:30 a.m.

    Where: Participating Broome County Senior Centers

    Who: For everyone, including all seniors, family, and friends

  • Presidential Luncheon at Senior Centers

    Everyone is invited to celebrate President’s Day at a participating local senior center. The celebration begins around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20th.   

    All guests will enjoy a choice of liver with onions or chicken marengo, mashed potatoes, broccoli and black forest pudding topped with cherries for dessert.  In addition to the luncheon, the following Senior Centers are featuring special activities on this day:  Northern Broome Senior Center will host a cookie baking contest, and Eastern Broome Senior Center will hold the final round of presidential history themed trivia. 

    Anyone who is interested in attending the celebration will need to make a reservation by 12 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19th by calling the center he or she plans to attend. Lunch is a suggested contribution of $3.50 for those ages 60+ and their spouse of any age, and a charge of $4.50 for those under age 60.

     

    Broome West Senior Center                           785-1777         2801 Wayne St., Endwell

    First Ward Senior Center                                729-6214         226 Clinton St., Binghamton

    Johnson City Senior Center                            797-1149         30 Brocton St., Johnson City

    North Shore Towers Community Center        772-6214         24 Isbell St., Binghamton

    Northern Broome Senior Center                     692-3405         12 Strongs Pl., Whitney Point

    Vestal Senior Center                                       754-9596         201 Main St., Vestal

    Eastern Broome Senior Center                       693-2069         27 Golden Ln., Harpursville

     

    Those age 60+ and their spouse of any age will not be denied service due to an inability or unwillingness to contribute.   

     

    What: “Presidential Luncheon at Participating Senior Centers”

    When: Wednesday, February 20, around 11:30 am

    Where: Participating Broome County Senior Centers

    Who: For everyone, including all seniors, family, and friends

  • Health Department Receives Reports of Increased Overdoses; Free Narcan Training on Jan. 26 in Binghamton

    CONTACT:  Marissa Lamphere, Broome County Health Department

    (607) 778-2812, marissa.knapp@broomecountyny.gov

     

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) Broome County has received reports of increased overdoses over the last 3-5 days.

    The Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC), Truth Pharm and Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) will be co-hosting a Narcan Training on Saturday, January 26 from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at ACBC located at 447 West State Street Binghamton, NY 13901. Community members can stop by anytime from 1pm-3pm and receive a free Narcan kit. Narcan is the drug used to reverse an overdose of opioids including heroin and prescription pain pills such as morphine, codeine, methadone and Vicodin. Participants will learn about overdose prevention and how to correctly administer Narcan.

    Community members can also visit their local pharmacy and use the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP), no prior prescription from a medical provider is needed. Call your pharmacy ahead to ensure availability.

    Walk in hours are also available at ACBC, Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) and Truth Pharm for a Narcan kit and education. Please contact those agencies for hours.

    As always we encourage those with a substance use disorder to not use alone, have a Narcan kit available and if you are on the site of an overdose call 911.