Memorial commission honors victims of Buffalo mass shooting

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul and Buffalo mayor Byron Brown announced the establishment of the May 14th Memorial Commission in response to the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue earlier this year. The commission will develop and advise on the execution of a plan to site and build a physical memorial in East Buffalo to memorialize the life and legacy of the 10 Black residents of Buffalo who died in the white supremacist terror attack earlier this year, according to the announcement.

Juvenile justice reform bills advance

HARRISBURG, PA — The Senate Appropriations Committee has overwhelmingly approved a package of juvenile justice reform bills, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20). The bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration.

The four bills advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee include Senate Bill 1226, which creates a standardized statewide expungement process; Senate Bill 1227, which amends the human services code to include both juvenile-justice and child-welfare funding goals; Senate Bill 1228, which keeps youth in out-of-home placement no longer than the timeframe supported by research; and Senate Bill 1229, which amends the human services code to provide funding for indigent-juvenile defense services.

PA state grants available for water and sewer projects

HARRISBURG, PA — Local municipalities have until Wednesday, December 21 to apply for grants to assist with clean water, sanitary sewer and stormwater projects, according to Sen. Lisa Baker (R- 20), who urges local municipalities to apply. The General Assembly approved the use of $320 million to help communities across the commonwealth improve the reliability and quality of their water systems.

The grant support will range from $30,000 to more than $500,000, and can be used to assist with the construction, improvement, expansion, rehabilitation or repair of a water-supply system or sanitary sewer system, and for stormwater system projects. The online application for the H2O grant program and the Small Water and SWS grant program can be submitted now thorough Wednesday, December 21. Cities, townships, boroughs, counties and municipal authorities are encouraged to apply at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us. Grant awards are highly competitive and will likely be announced in July of 2023.

Deadline approaches formail-in ballot application

HARRISBURG, PA — Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman reminded registered Pennsylvania voters that they have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1 to apply for a mail ballot for the Tuesday, November 8 general election.

“Pennsylvanians still have time to apply online for a mail-in or absentee ballot, or to apply in person at their county board of elections office,” Chapman said. Pennsylvanians can also request their mail ballot, complete and return it in person in one visit to their county election office, until 5 pm. Tuesday, November 1. Voters are encouraged to check their county election office hours before making the trip. Only registered voters can vote by mail ballot. The deadline to register to vote for the Tuesday, November 8 general election was October 24.

Child care at SUNY Sullivan

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — SUNY Sullivan has been awarded $1 million in state funding to support the expansion of the college’s on-campus child care center. Run in partnership with the Healthy Kids Early Child Learning Program, SUNY Sullivan’s center provides students, employees and community members with a preschool child care program for children aged three to five during on-campus class hours. The state funding will support renovations that will allow the college to expand the program to infants and toddlers.

Ryan gives support to community projects

KINGSTON, NY — In a letter sent to the House Appropriations Committee leadership of both parties, Rep. Pat Ryan (D, NY-19) called for the inclusion of 14 projects originally vetted by former representative Antonio Delgado. The projects include $2 million for a proposed permanent outpatient health care facility in South Fallsburg proposed by Refuah Health Center “to help address the significant and dire healthcare needs faced by Sullivan County,” according to the letter. The project would add 20 new full-time healthcare jobs, including four medical providers, in Sullivan County.

Public hearing on code enforcement

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Assembly will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 1 at 10 a.m., to examine the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. This hearing will look at the administration and enforcement practices for the uniform code, including the role of the Department of State in the oversight of local government code enforcement activities and requirements for code enforcement officer certification. Contact Emily Van De Loo, at vandele@nyassembly.gov or at 518/455-4355; visit bit.ly/3z1aDd4 for a copy of the response form.

NY red flag law usage doubles

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul and attorney general Letitia James announced an expansion in usage of NYS’s Red Flag Law to further protect New Yorkers from gun violence. Following an executive order and legislation signed by Hochul to strengthen implementation of the law, courts across the state have issued 1,908 Extreme Risk Protection Orders, more than doubling the number of orders issued since the law became effective on August 25, 2019.

Small town living comes to Barryville

BARRYVILLE, NY — John Pizzolato, proprietor of the Stickett Inn and local activist, joined Mike Edison, long-time Heritage Radio host, musician and author, on horseback at the Barryville sign along the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway—Route 97—to announce a new podcast, “Everything is Better in Barryville.” The show will be featured on the Heritage Radio Network and on major podcast platforms, and will start airing November 7, with the tagline, “We’re here. Get used to it.”

“This show is coming to you from Barryville, but it is a metaphor for all small towns in rural America that are facing the same challenges—new businesses coming in, and whether they’ll be welcomed by long-time locals. This is the Barryville of the mind, and it is the climax of civilization,” said Pizzolato.