The State Department of Health has completed its public health review of high-volume hydraulic fracturing and Acting Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker recommended that high-volume hydraulic fracturing should not move forward in New York State. Dr. Zucker announced his findings and recommendations today at a Cabinet Meeting in Albany. DEC Commissioner Joe Martens will issue a findings statement that will prohibit Hydrofracking in New York State, the DEC will incorporate the findings of the public health review into the Final Environmental impact statement, which will be released with a response to public comments early next year.
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Chobani will be donating one million cups of Greek yogurt to New Yorkers in need this holiday season as part of its commitment to give to the communities where they operate. The first one million cups will be distributed to City Harvest, to help feed more than 1.4 million New Yorkers facing hunger. The company will begin loading product on today from their plant in New Berlin. Chobani will also be making another large product donation to a local food organization near their Twin Falls plant in Idaho.
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The Chenango county united way program is behind in their fund raising efforts this year, with less than 2 weeks to go in the campaign. Executive director Elizabeth Monaco explains:

(Elizabeth Monaco 12-18-14

Monaco said that people could make a pledge at 334-8815 or online at Chenango uw.org, through 12:00 noon on December 31st.
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A free dinner is being offered on Christmas day again this year in Sidney, through the efforts of area churches & markets. Gene Schmidt is coordinating the event again this year:

(Gene Schmidt 12-18-14)

Those who would like to volunteer, or donate food can call Schmidt at 610-4030.
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New York State remains free of any Ebola cases and the State Department of Health continues to monitor and screen health care workers and others traveling from Ebola-affected countries. Individuals may be monitored or quarantined for 21 days, depending on their contact history with Ebola. Anyone that has symptoms consistent with Ebola virus will be immediately transported to a specially designated hospital and tested. New York has had only one patient with Ebola, a health care worker who recovered from the disease at Bellevue Hospital in New York City
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G-MU graduate Corin Todd of Otego has been selected to compete in the 2015 ESPN X-Games in Aspen, Colorado from January 22-25. Todd is a professional snocross rider for Leighton Motorsports, competing in the U.S. and Canada. The Winter X Games are a competition including winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.
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