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  • Broome County Highway Work Planned for Week of 7/27

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – The following work is scheduled on Broome County roadways beginning Monday, July 27th.

    • Storm damage cleanup on Hale Eddy River Road, Oquaga Lake Road & North Sanford Road
    • Cleaning ditches on West Chenango Road, Old Newark Valley Road, Broome County Airport Road, Hardie Road & Terrace Drive
    • Culvert work on Old Newark Valley Road, Terrace Drive & Trim Street.
    • Guide rail repairs on Nanticoke Drive & Greenwood Road
    • Mowing the right of way on county roadways
    • Striping county roadways with paint truck
  • Broome County Office of Emergency Services Launches “Ready Broome” Mobile App

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – The Broome County Office of Emergency Services has officially launched the new “Ready Broome” mobile app, now available for download on both Apple and Android devices.

    The Ready Broome app was developed to provide residents with quick, reliable access to emergency alerts, preparedness resources, public safety information, and critical updates during emergencies and severe weather events – all in one convenient location.

    The app includes emergency push notifications from the Broome County Office of Emergency Services, National Weather Service alerts, preparedness and safety resources, information related to power outages and damage reporting, traffic and roadway information, and additional emergency services updates and tools.

    “Having accurate and timely information during an emergency is critical,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “The Ready Broome app gives residents direct access to important alerts, preparedness information, and emergency resources right from their phones. This is about making information easier to access and helping our community stay informed and prepared.”

    Neal Haight, Director of the Office of Emergency Services said, “As we know, Broome County has a long history of natural disasters and emergencies. It is imperative for us to be able to reach out to residents with timely and accurate information as quickly as possible during these situations. The Ready Broome app will allow us to do just that while providing the public with many other valuable tools such as personal/household emergency planning, power outage information and Health Department information, all at your fingertips.”

    Residents are encouraged to download the Ready Broome app and enable notifications to receive important emergency alerts and updates.

  • Dry Ice and Bottled Water Distribution Sites Available Following Severe Weather

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – Following this weekend’s severe weather and power outages, NYSEG is providing dry ice and bottled water for customers who remain without power.

    Distribution sites will open at 12:00 p.m. today, Monday, July 20, and supplies will be available until they run out or the listed site closing time.

    Residents in need of dry ice and bottled water can visit the following locations:

    Lisle Fire Station
    9090 Main St.

    Lisle, NY 13797
    Open until 7:30 p.m.

    Northern Broome Senior Center
    12 Strongs Place
    Whitney Point, NY 13862
    Open until 3:00 p.m.

    Deposit Fire Station
    130 Second St.
    Deposit, NY 13754
    Open until 7:00 p.m.

    For the latest information on power outages and recovery efforts, residents should continue to

  • Broome County Highway Work Planned for Week of 7/20

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – The following work is scheduled on Broome County roadways beginning Monday, July 20th.

    • Cleaning ditches on West Chenango Road, Dunham Hill Road, Old Route 17, Hardie Road, Twist Run Road, & Terrace Drive
    • Culvert work on Bunn Hill Road, Old Newark Valley Road, Terrace Drive, Hardie Road, Ouaquaga Road, & Old Route 17.
    • Blacktop repairs on Twist Run Road
    • Guide rail repairs on Nanticoke Road, Greenwood Road & Industrial Park
    • Mowing the right of way on county roadways
    • Striping county roadways with paint truck
  • Dorchester and Greenwood Park Beaches Close Early Due to Air Quality

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – Due to poor air quality and reduced visibility, Broome County will close the beaches at Dorchester Park and Greenwood Park at 4:30 p.m. today, July 16.

    Residents are encouraged to monitor local air quality conditions and limit prolonged outdoor activity, especially children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions.

  • Cyclosporiasis Prevention

    Cyclosporiasis Prevention

     

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – The Broome County Health Department (BCHD) is reminding community members about the increased incidence of cyclosporiasis cases across New York State (NYS).

     

    As of July 8, 2026, over 500 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in New York State, with 129 cases residing outside of New York City. At this time, there have been no reported cases of cyclosporiasis in Broome County. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection that spreads through the ingestion of food or water that is contaminated with the parasite, Cyclospora. Cyclospora infects the small intestine and typically causes watery diarrhea with frequent, explosive bowel movements. Other symptoms of cyclosporiasis are loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramping/bloating, nausea, and prolonged fatigue. Some infected individuals can be asymptomatic, particularly in settings where cyclosporiasis is endemic. The incubation period among infected individuals averages one week, but it can range from 2 to 14 days. Individuals experiencing symptoms of cyclosporiasis, or those who have recently traveled to an area where Cyclospora is common, should seek testing through their primary care provider, a walk-in clinic, or a hospital. Diagnosis involves submitting a stool sample for laboratory testing.

     

    Severe illnesses may require antibiotic treatment. People who are immunocompromised may be at a higher risk of severe illness and should contact their primary care doctor if they are experiencing symptoms. Cyclosporiasis symptoms can contribute to the rapid depletion of essential body fluids, and lead to severe dehydration. If you have cyclosporiasis, it’s important to rest and drink plenty of fluids while sick.

     

    The CDC recommends the following food handling and preparation practices to prevent infection of cyclosporiasis. Make sure to wash hands with soap and water before preparing, chopping, or cooking any raw fruits and vegetables for yourself or others. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly with running water before consuming them.

    For more information on cyclosporiasis, please visit the following New York State Department of Health and CDC Websites.

    https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/about/index.html

    https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/cyclosporiasis/

  • July 2026 Paper Shred Event

    (BINGHAMTON, NY) – The Broome County Division of Solid Waste Management will be hosting a paper shredding event for all Broome County residents on Saturday, July 18th, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    The drive-up event will be held at SUNY Broome in Parking Lot 1 located off Lt. Vanwinkle Drive. Event attendees should use Lt. Vanwinkle Drive, turn right onto South College Drive, bear right, then turn left into Lot 1. Event attendees will not need to leave their vehicles for the event; document boxes will be removed from your vehicle by County staff for shredding.

    This event is for Broome County residents only and can only be used for residential shredding. Businesses may not utilize this event.

    Attendees are allowed up to bring up to (4) document boxes (15”x10”x12”) for shredding per vehicle. The boxes will be returned to you.

    Accepted material for shredding includes:

    • Paper of any size or color

    • Paper with staples or paper clips

    • Sticky notes

    • White envelopes with or without windows

    • Manila folders

    • Business cards

    Items that will not be accepted:

    • Glass or plastic of any kind

    • Hanging file folders

    • Microfiche or film

    • Carbon paper

    Attendees do not need to make a reservation for the event, but a Facebook event has been created so you can confirm your attendance: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E9vyf3AM6/

  • County Executive Garnar: Supervisor Sexton’s Unprofessional, Reckless, and Cruel Behavior is Forcing an Unnecessary Housing Crisis in Vestal

    (BROOME COUNTY, NY) – Broome County Executive Jason Garnar today released a detailed timeline of the County’s response to conditions at the Parkway Inn, raising serious concerns about the Town of Vestal’s handling of the matter and Supervisor Maria Sexton’s repeated verbal demands that all residents immediately vacate the facility.

    “This has never been about whether code violations should be corrected,” Garnar said. “They should be corrected, and according to the property owner they have been corrected. This has been about whether approximately 75 vulnerable residents should be forced from the only shelter they have when County professionals determined there was no need for an immediate evacuation.”

    The Town of Vestal is solely responsible for enforcing its building and fire codes. Broome County has no authority over the Town’s code enforcement decisions. The County’s responsibility has been to protect the health and welfare of the residents living at the Parkway Inn.

    Timeline

    On June 29, the Town conducted its inspection of the Parkway Inn.

    On June 30, Supervisor Sexton contacted Broome County regarding code concerns and advised that she wanted all residents removed from the motel while repairs were completed. That evening, County officials met with Supervisor Sexton and requested a copy of the Town’s inspection report.

    The report was never provided.

    Instead of waiting, Broome County immediately dispatched inspectors from the Department of Social Services and the Broome County Health Department to independently assess conditions. Those professionals inspected the property and did not conclude that conditions required the immediate evacuation of residents.

    Over the following days, the County repeatedly requested both a draft and the final inspection report. Neither was ever provided by the Town. The County ultimately obtained the report directly from the property owner.

    The inspection occurred on June 29, yet the owner did not receive the Town’s official Notice of Violation until July 9.

    According to the owner, all the violations identified in the report had already been corrected two days before the Town officially issued the report.

    “The timeline raises obvious questions,” Garnar said. “The Town sat on its findings for approximately ten days. During that time, the County repeatedly asked for the report and never received it. The owner completed the repairs before the Town officially served the report. Yet throughout this process, Supervisor Sexton continued demanding that approximately 75 residents immediately leave the motel.”

    Importantly, while Supervisor Sexton repeatedly stated verbally that residents needed to leave immediately, the Town’s written Notice of Violation does not order the building to be vacated. Instead, it provides the owner with thirty days to comply with the violations cited.

    The County also noted that the Town’s previous inspection of the Parkway Inn, conducted early last year, identified no interior code violations whatsoever. The only items cited involved debris near a dumpster and shopping carts that needed to be returned to their owner.

    “This year’s inspection is dramatically different from the Town’s prior inspection,” Garnar said. “The public deserves to understand why.”

    County officials also expressed concern over comments made during discussions regarding the residents.

    When County officials asked what would happen to approximately 75 vulnerable residents if the motel were emptied immediately, Supervisor Sexton responded, ‘It’s not my problem, it’s your problem.’

    “Those residents are everyone’s responsibility,” Garnar said. “Government should never treat families, children, seniors, veterans, or individuals experiencing homelessness as someone else’s problem.”

    Forcing residents from the Parkway Inn would place enormous pressure on emergency medical services, law enforcement, shelters, hospitals, schools, and human service agencies throughout Broome County while leaving the Town of Vestal with approximately 75 additional unhoused individuals overnight.

    Next Steps in Emergency Housing Request for Proposals (RFP)

    On May 26, Broome County issued a Request for Proposals seeking an experienced organization to help redesign the County’s emergency housing system and develop a comprehensive approach focused on short-term response, long-term stability, and reducing reliance on motel placements. 

    The County received three proposals in response from:

    • HCD Consult LLC
    • Chrysalis Research & Consulting
    • Health Management Associates

    The proposals will now be reviewed by a committee consisting of County officials and stakeholders. Following the review process, the County will select an organization with the expertise needed to help develop a more coordinated homelessness response system. 

  • Tobacco-Free Broome and Tioga Announces $35,000 Funding Opportunity to Advance Tobacco-Free Communities

    Binghamton, NY — July 10, 2026 — The Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga (TFBT) Program is inviting grassroots organizations to apply for funding made available through the Advancing Tobacco Free Communities (ATFC) grant, held by the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Control.  The program will award a total of $35,000 to support community-led efforts that reduce commercial tobacco-related health disparities and promote healthier environments across Broome and Tioga Counties.

     

    The funding opportunity is designed to empower local organizations that serve populations disproportionately impacted by the commercial tobacco industry’s marketing tactics, widespread tobacco and vapor product availability, and high rates of tobacco related diseases. Selected organizations will work in partnership with TFBT staff to engage community members and advance policy, systems, and environmental changes that improve public health.

    All ATFC grantees are required to dedicate funds through subawards to collaborate with local organizations to support communities that are targeted by the commercial tobacco industry in an inequitable way, and/or those that experience higher rates of tobacco-related death and disease.

    Applicants may propose projects focused on one or more of the following priority initiatives:

     

    • Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing
    • Tobacco Product Waste and the Environment
    • Retail Environment
    • Tobacco-Free Outdoor Spaces

     

    Funded activities may include but are not limited to community conversations, educational outreach, resident engagement, policy education, and partnerships with local organizations and municipal leaders to create lasting improvements in community health.

     

    Eligible applicants include grassroots organizations serving Broome and Tioga Counties that work with communities disproportionately affected by commercial tobacco use and its health consequences.

     

    Projects will be implemented between August 17, 2026, and April 30, 2027, with the potential for additional funding beyond the initial project period.

     

    Applications must be submitted no later than August 10, 2026.

     

    For application materials or additional information, contact:

     

    Nikole Hurlbert

    Supervising Public Health Educator

    Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga

     Broome County Health Department

    225 Front Street Binghamton, NY 13905

    Phone: (607) 778-2885

    Email: nikole.hurlbert@broomecountyny.gov

     

    About Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga

     

    The Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga (TFBT) Program works to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use through education, community engagement, and policy initiatives that promote healthier, tobacco-free environments. The program is funded through the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Control and works collaboratively with community partners to advance health equity throughout Broome and Tioga Counties.