The Afton & Bainbridge Guilford Yes Leaders are teaming up for an Opioid Awareness Program tonight in the Afton School District. State Senator Fred Akshar comments:

(Fred Akshar 3-16-17)

Hundreds are expected to attend the event tonight, which will start with a free pizza dinner at 5:30 followed by the program at 6:00 PM; more information about the program is available at yes safe choices.org.
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The New York State Department of Health today announced several enhancements to the state’s Medical Marijuana Program that will improve patient access. The measures include authorizing physician assistants to certify patients and adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition. More information about New York’s Medical Marijuana Program is available at health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana.
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The State Senate & State Assembly passed their budget resolutions this week, paving the way for the conference committees to begin negotiating the differences in the 2 plans next week. Both budget plans call for increases tuition assistance for college students and increasing aid to public school districts and tackling the state’s aging water infrastructure issues. Other issues include stopping the practice of prosecuting 16 & 17 year olds as adults in criminal cases, and allowing for Uber & Lyft to begin serving upstate counties.
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The IRS will extend deadlines to file business income tax returns for small businesses affected by the recent wind & snowstorms. Senator Chuck Schumer’s requested the extension beyond the March 15th, the IRS Agreed to extend it 5 more days to March 20th.
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Broome County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for 42 year old Nneka Simmons of Endicott, who is wanted on grand larceny and identity theft charges. Arrest warrants have been issued on the felony charges Simmons is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, 205 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at 778-1196, 778-2923, or 778-2933.
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The American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors throughout the state to give blood following the recent winter storm, which forced 56 regional blood drives to cancel and blood donations centers to shut down, causing about 1,480 donations to go uncollected. Officials said that there is a critical need for type O negative donors. Upcoming Blood drives will be held in Oneonta on Monday from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM at SUNY Oneonta, on March 27th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Southside Oneonta Holiday Inn, & March 28th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Oneonta Elks Club, on Chestnut Street. Blood donations will be collected in Sidney on March 28th from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the Sidney Elks Lodge, & in Walton on March 28th at the Pines Brook Church, from 2:00 to 7:00 PM. More information is available at redcrossblood.org.
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The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 2017 Job Fair on Tuesday, April 4th at the Holiday Inn, in Oneonta. The Job Fair will run from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Businesses interested in participating can call 432- 4500 extension 207.

Governor Cuomo reminds New Yorkers who need help paying their heating bills to apply to the Home Energy Assistance Program by tomorrow, March 17. Nearly 1.3 million households have already received help heating their homes this winter through the program. Households eligible for HEAP can receive one regular benefit per year, of up to $626, depending on income, household size and heating source. People may apply for online at myBenefits.ny.gov.
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Manufacturing in New York State expanded for the 5th straight month in March, but at a slower pace that February, when activity reached the highest level in 2 years. The Federal Reserve Bank in New York reported that the empire state manufacturing index in march stood at 16.4, down from 18.7 last month, the level for new orders was the highest in several years, the level for unfilled orders jumped to the highest levels in about a decade. The increases follow 2 years of mostly flat output.
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