Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) drafted a letter to Gov. Hochul yesterday requesting that the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation delay its enforcement start date from January 1, 2025.
Following conversations with constituents and local business owners who rely on trucks for their operations, Hawley has learned that the implementation of the program – which resulted from an effort to curb excess emissions from shipping trucks – is already producing problems businesses are struggling to accommodate in this short timeframe. Hawley is asking for the delay until the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority conducts and concludes the highway and depot charging needs evaluation.
“The New York State Automobile Dealers Association (NYSADA) and the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) have already expressed concerns with the regulation’s implementation next year, and their claims need to be heeded” Hawley said.
“As a government we need to start listening to all stakeholders who will be affected by decisions New York State makes. In this case, it would appear that truck dealers and trucking businesses have never been consulted. Unfortunately, this happens over and over again with the State of New York” Hawley said.
Shawn Woodward fries up a blooming onion. Woodward said he thinks the first time he tried a blooming onion himself was as a child at the Elba Onion Festival. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Oakfield Labor Daze Music and Food Festival has two main components. We've covered the weekend's music. Here's a look at the other part of the festival -- all the good food being served up by about a dozen vendors.
Monday's Schedule:
10 a.m.: Parade
11 a.m.: Salvatore
1 p.m.: Terry Buchwald (Elvis)
4 p.m.: Songbirds (Fleetwood Mac)
And food vendors all day.
Joel Hamm cooking in the Oakfield Betterment Committee food booth. Photo by Howard Owens.
Felix Elimihele from Kitchen Africana in the Greece Mall. Photo by Howard Owens.
Like any serious collector of vinyl records, Cheektowaga resident Joe Spath comes across many decades old records with little to no value—copies of the soundtrack to “South Pacific,” for example, or any Mitch Miller LP. Ditto Burl Ives. To say these records are a dime a dozen is to overstate their value.
That's why Spath grabs those records from the pile when he finds them to turn them into wall art.
Using computer-guided cutting tools, Spath turns the vinyl records into tributes to legendary artists, such as Chuck Berry, Paul McCartney, Elton John, ABBA, the Bee Gees, and so on.
He carves an artist's image or logo into the record and prints out a faux record label he downloads from the Web to cover over the original less desirable label.
Spath is one of the vendors this weekend at the Oakfield Labor Daze Music & Food Festival.
He started cutting records about 12 years ago.
"I've been doing this because it makes people happy," the Navy veteran said Sunday.
A former DJ, Spath said he has cataloged in his collection of "keepers" 8,000 LPs, 2,000 45s, 1,500 CDs, and even a lot of cassettes.
The collection spans the 1940s to the 2000s and pretty much every genre of music.
"Variety is the spice of life," he said.
There are close to three dozen vendors at the festival this weekend.
Five-year-old Lukas Kastelic was quite pleased with the tie-dyed Buffalo Bills T-shirt his parents were buying him. Photo by Howard Owens
Sunday night's headliner, Nerds Gone Wild -- perhaps Western New York's most popular cover band -- thrilled all their fans who turned out in Triangle Park for their headlining performance on the second day of the Oakfield Labor Daze Music & Food Festival.
While waiting for the band make its grand entrance, one woman from Arizona approached a reporter and praised the festival. She couldn't believe all the music was free. And she loved all the food options. She said she extended her vacation an extra week just to see Nerds in Oakfield.
Hazzard County, a Buffalo-based country music band, got a late start due to heavy rain, lightning, and thunder but still put on an all-out performance for music fans Sunday in Oakfield.
As someone in recovery for more than four decades, Linda Ackley knows what those struggling with substance use are going through.
Now in her 22nd year at UConnectCare (formerly Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse), Ackley is a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor currently is serving as a “tech.”
A dedicated employee, her experience and compassion have made a difference in the lives of her clients at the agency’s Atwater Community Residence and Detox Center.
It was in her mid-20s when Ackley came to grips with her excessive drinking and -- leaning on what she calls “her higher power” -- found the strength to put those days behind her.
“I went back to school and got my diploma (she had dropped out after becoming pregnant at the age of 16),” she said. “Then, I went to Genesee Community College and got my associate’s degree in social work, and from there I went to Brockport and got my bachelor’s degree in mental health/social work.”
Since then, she obtained her master’s degree and has worked tirelessly to counsel and mentor people seeking to break free from the grip of substance use.
“When you’re trying to relate to young people who are in the program, it makes a big difference if you can tell them that you’ve been there; that you know what the heck they’re going through,” she said. “If they find out that your book smart, they’re going to give you a hard time. They’ll say, ‘You don’t know how I feel.’ Yeah, you do know how they feel when you’ve been there.”
Ackley’s work ethic has transferred to her daughter, Carrie Anne, who also works at UConnectCare. She also has a son, John, who lives in Genesee County. Her other son, Francis, died in 2001.
When not at work, Ackley and her longtime partner, John, rescue animals – primarily cats.
“We've been saving the animals for years,” she said. “That’s my big thing now. I’ve got 12 of my own after I fixed them and got them all sets, and four kittens that I’m fostering right now.”
Ackley said she is proud of her granddaughter, Julietta, who is enrolled at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs in pursuit of a PhD.
“I raised her, although not my blood, right along with my other grandchildren (after Francis died),” she said. “I’ve had her for 20 years and she’s doing great.”
Linda Ackley Submitted photo.
Ackley suffered a severe injury to her right arm years ago while working at Genesee County ARC (resulting in replacement of the bone from the shoulder to the elbow), but that hasn’t slowed her down. She also underwent heart surgery earlier this year.
“They put a watchman into my left valve,” she said, adding that she returned to her job several weeks later.
As far as working at UConnectCare is concerned, Ackley said “this place is just like family.”
“It’s a great place to work,” she added. “We all work together and do our best for our clients.”
She said she encourages those in recovery – young people who have come through UConnectCare – to pursue a career in substance use or mental health counseling.
“We had two people here that were in the program that I encouraged to get into recovery, and after that come back here to work,” she said. “Guess what? They’re back here working.”
The path to recovery begins with U. At UConnectCare, we want you to work with us. For more information on employment opportunities, go to www.uconnectcare.org.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might be provided by obtaining a debt consolidation loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a local lender.
“Providing producers with options to structure their debt in a manner that affords them every opportunity to meet the goals of their agricultural operation is the best way to ensure the nation’s farmers and ranchers build financial equity and resilience,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.
A debt consolidation loan is a new loan used to pay off other existing operating loans or lines of credit that might have unreasonable rates and terms. By combining multiple eligible debts into a single, larger loan, borrowers may obtain more favorable payment terms such as a lower interest rate or lower payments. Consolidating debt may also provide farmers and ranchers additional cash flow flexibilities.
The Debt Consolidation Tool is a significant addition to FSA’s suite of improvements designed to modernize its Farm Loan Programs. The tool enhances customer service and increases opportunities for farmers and ranchers to achieve financial viability by helping them identify potential savings that could be reinvested in their farming and ranching operation, retirement accounts, or college savings accounts.
Producers can access the Debt Consolidation Tool by visiting farmers.gov/debt-consolidation-tool. The tool is built to run on modern browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or the Safari browser. Producers do not need to create a farmers.gov account or access the authenticated customer portal to use the tool.
The 2024 Gas & Steam Show Auction will take place online at bontragerauction.com. Bidders can place their bids anytime from September 3rd through the 5th. There are over one thousand lots, including vehicles, machinery, farm implements, vintage advertising, ag-related collectibles, tools, and many more items. A live preview will take place Thursday, September 5th from 1 - 4 pm at 9921 Hickox Road, Alexander, NY, just 2 miles from the Steam Show grounds. Find out more and see the catalog at bontragerauction.com.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) unveiled her Tax Plan designed to reduce financial burdens on families and support small businesses in New York's 24th Congressional District and across the nation.
As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the nation's tax policy, Tenney is leading the charge to make the tax code work for all Americans. Additionally, Tenney is committed to holding the IRS accountable and preventing unfair auditing practices.
"My top priority has always been to protect New York taxpayers and promote economic growth by advocating for a tax code that rewards hard work and entrepreneurship and allows Americans to take home more of their earnings," said Congresswoman Tenney. "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which I supported, was the most significant tax reform legislation signed into law in decades. I remain dedicated to supporting tax policies that are pro-growth, pro-worker, and fiscally responsible to shield hardworking taxpayers from high prices and wasteful spending by the government."
The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Genesee and Wyoming County residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, September 14, at Centennial Park in Batavia. Registration opens at 10 a.m., with the Walk commencing at 11 a.m.
“This is a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s. There are now treatments that change the course of the disease,” says Kaitlyn Less, director of development for the Western New York Chapter. “We hope that everyone in the community can join us to help the Alzheimer’s Association raise awareness and funds for families facing the disease today, take more steps toward treatments and finally end this disease.”
Julia Rogers of Batavia has participated in the Genesee/Wyoming Walk for several years. “I Walk to honor those who live with this disease and in memory of those who passed away before a cure could be found,” she says. "It must be so scary for people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Just for a moment imagine you can't come up with a close family member's or friend's name or participate in familiar activities like you used to. Our Walk supports the caregivers, family members and friends who have become the safety and security for their loved ones.”
On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony – a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.
Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In New York State, there are more than 426,5000 people living with the disease and 543,000 caregivers.
The funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s ensure the programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association are free to all who need them, in addition to funding the research and advocacy efforts which have resulted in new treatments for people living in the early stage.
To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Genesee and Wyoming Counties, visit act.alz.org/GeneseeWyoming.
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