Local lawmakers are weighing in on the new state budget plan, area state senator Jim Seward comments:

(Seward 4-1-16)

Seward said that the Budget includes the Minimum wage increase to $15.00 an hour by 2021, something that was opposed to, he approves of the $1 billion dollar Middle Class Tax cut in the 1st year, which will reach $4.2 Billion dollars when implemented over the next several years.
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The out of the woodwork players have assembled a 28 member cast for the play “A Funny Little Thing Call Love” Area Merchant & Local Theater veteran Rich Cooley told WCDO News that he read the script, loved it and then went about putting together the largest production in recent memory:

(Rich Cooley 4-1-16)

The play will be held at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater Performances: Friday, April 15th & Saturday, April 16th at 7:00pm, and Sunday April 17th at 2:00pm. Tickets can be purchased at owptheatre@yahoo.com OR contact or at Cooley’s jewelers on Main Street in Sidney at 563-1311.
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The Delaware county fair comes back to the fairgrounds in Walton August 15ht to the 20th. Spokesman John Jackson said that tickets for the Saturday night concert go on sale tomorrow:

(John Jackson 4-1-16)

Jackson said that Reithoffers midways are back, as well as the demolition derby, Tractor and farm equipment displays and demonstrations, Livestock contests and encounters with over 1,000 animals, Food & a variety of Live entertainment each day.
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Delaware County Sheriff Deputies arrested 57-year-old Calvin Wank of Deposit on 1 count of unlawful possession of marijuana, and 2 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Deputies accuse Wank of possessing Cocaine, marijuana & Methamphetamine. Wank was arraigned at Deposit Town Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $1000 bail.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 22-year-old Tyler Davis of Walton for 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 1 count of Sexual Misconduct & 1 count of Criminal Sexual Act. Davis was taken into custody at the conclusion of an investigation conducted by Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and Deputies. Davis was arraigned & was released to reappear at a later date.
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Governor Cuomo announced a last minute agreement with legislative leaders on the 2016-17 state budget, which includes Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour in every region of the state by 2021, Enacting a paid family leave policy, Holding the growth in state spending to 2%, Cutting the personal income tax, Providing $24.8 billion in School Aid, & ending the Gap Elimination Adjustment. The budget also includes Investing $55 billion in the largest state transportation plan ever approved – including $27 billion for the DOT and Thruway and $27 billion for the MTA of New York City.
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The remaining law that completed the Women’s Equality Agenda package will take effect today. This measure creates a pilot program that would enable domestic violence victims to seek temporary orders of protection through electronic means rather than having to appear in person.
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The New York State Department of Health announced that Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker will lead a team of state and local health officials to a federal Zika Action Plan Summit to share strategies and best practices with colleagues from across the nation. The gathering will be held today at the Atlanta headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is increasing evidence that Zika is linked to a birth defect, in the developing fetuses of infected mothers. The State Plan includes distributing 100,000 larvicide tablets to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds; aggressively monitoring the mosquito population through trapping and testing; providing free Zika protection kits to pregnant women; deploying Rapid Response Teams wherever local mosquito transmission is confirmed; issuing emergency regulations requiring local Zika Action Plans; and launching a broad public awareness campaign.
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The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during National Volunteer Month this April. Blood drives today are scheduled from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Harold BOCES, campus on Route 206 in Masonville, in Norwich from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the Broad Street Methodist Church, & in Cooperstown from 1:30 to 6:30 PM at Bassett Hall. To make an appointment to give blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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