Senator Fred Akshar this week released his latest Community Voice Survey online and by mail to poll the community on various issues facing constituents across the 52nd Senate District. Akshar told WCDO News that even those outside his district are welcomed to share their opinions:

(Akshar 1-19-17)

Akshar said that nearly 70,000 households across the 52nd District would be receiving the survey in the mail, which can also be returned via mail after completion. The online address for the survey is Akshar.NYSenate.Gov.
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Test drilling sites have been popping up around Sidney, as the village tries to address lingering water issues, Mayor Andy Matviak addressed their results during Tuesday nights meeting:

(Andy Matviak 1-19-17)

Matviak said that some residents were concerned that the drilling was for natural gas, he said that none of the wells were for that purpose, all were for addressing the existing water problems of the village regarding Manganese & low water pressure in some areas of the village.
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In December 2016, New York State’s private sector job count increased by 9,000, or 0.1%, to 7,963,900, a new record high, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. Since the beginning of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, New York State’s economy has added 869,600 private sector jobs and experienced employment growth in 61 of the past 72 months. In December 2016, New York’s statewide unemployment rate decreased from 5.1% to 4.9%.
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The National Baseball Hall of fame announced the election of Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, the Class of 2017 is now set. The inductees will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at 1:30 PM on Sunday, July 30th at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown along with Today’s Game Era electees John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, who were elected in December…2017 Ford C. Frick Award winner Bill King and 2017 Spink Award winner Claire Smith will be honored during Induction Weekend at the Awards Presentation on Saturday, July 29 at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown.
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Former Bassett Hospital Doctor, John Davis will speak to the Hartwick Historical Society tonight, regarding his book on Dr. Mary Bassett & The history of Bassett Hospital. The event will begin at 7:00 PM tonight at the Kinney Memorial Library; more information is available at 293-7530.
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The Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne will hold a ribbon cutting today for their welcome center lobby. The event will begin at 5:30 PM and the public is invited to attend.
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Reactions from lawmakers are coming in after Governor Cuomo unveiled his Executive budget proposal Tuesday. State Senator Jim Seward commented:

(Seward 1-19-17)

The Governor’s budget proposal totals over 152 Billion dollars; lawmakers have until April first to get it passed by the deadline.
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Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will present the Governor’s State of the State and Budget Proposals this morning at Binghamton University at 11:30. The presentation will be held in the Innovative Technologies Complex Engineering and Science Building at 85 Murray Hill Road. This afternoon Commissioner RoAnn Destito of the Office of General Services will give a presentation of Governor Cuomo’s 2016 Budget Address today at 4:00 PM. The presentation will be held at the Foothills Performing Arts Center on Market Street in Oneonta.
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State Police arrested 38 year old Jean-Philippe Baron of Oneonta, for 2 counts of Criminal Mischief and 1 count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, after troopers responded to a dispute in the Town of Unadilla. An investigation determined that during a verbal dispute with a woman, Baron grabbed a cellphone from her hand and destroyed it before she could call 911 for help, while she was holding a child. He also damaged a barbecue grill, Baron was arraigned in the Town of Unadilla Court and was remanded to the Otsego County Jail with no bail set. His next court date is on February 13, 2017.
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