By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 August 2023 at 8:52 am
ALBION – The Albion school district is seeking state approval for free breakfasts and lunches to be offered to all students this school year.
Albion has applied to the state Department of Education to be included in the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.
To qualify, a district or school building must have an Identified Student Percent (ISP) of at least 40 percent. Albion is at 51 percent, and that number has increased since Albion last looked at being in the program in 2018, said Rick Recckio, Albion’s school business administrator.
The ISP isn’t determined by student eligible for free and reduced lunch. Instead it depends on SNAP and Medicaid recipients identified through the electronic direct certification matching process (DCMP) and extension of these eligibility benefits to siblings or other household members not matched. It also includes homeless children identified by the homeless liaison, Head Start students, migrant, runaway and foster children certified directly by the state or local foster agency, Recckio said.
“We submitted our application to the state and we are working with them to transition to CEP from our current program allowing all students to have free breakfast and lunch,” he said. “This is not a guarantee as the state needs to approve us in order to offer this program. This would be funded by the state and federal government.”
Recckio and Albion school officials are hoping the state Education Department will make a decision on Albion’s application before the start of the school year.
The state budget for 2023-24 increased state spending by $134 million for school districts to participate in CEP.
“For kids to be successful in school, they can’t sit there with their stomachs growling — they’re hungry,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in announcing the funding increase. “They need nutritious food to focus and thrive.”
Leadoff speaker will discuss evolution of deodorant
Press Release, Genesee Community College History Club
BATAVIA – The Genesee Community College History Club is excited to announce the Historical Horizons Lecture Series schedule for the Fall 2023 semester. The series will kick off Wednesday, Sept. 6, with Dr. Cari Casteel discussing “A Better Mousetrap for Your Armpit: The Cultural Evolution of Deodorant.”
As of 2023, over 90% of men and women in the United States apply a deodorant or an antiperspirant about 6-7 times a week – and some more than that. The store shelves are filled with a dizzying array of applications and scents. Before the 1950s, deodorants only came in two forms – liquid and cream. By the 1960s, the choices seemed endless.
In the years following the Second World War, the deodorant market underwent a period of rapid technological innovation. With the market at near saturation, technology and innovation had become the way to win consumers. New application methods including roll-ons, sprays and sticks filled the shelves.
These new deodorants drove many consumers to frequently switch brands, opting for the newest, most modern product. This made it possible for an innovative deodorant to go from nonexistent to the market leader in a matter of months. Deodorant makers found themselves locked in a constant struggle to-in the words of an English Leather deodorant ad- “build a better mousetrap” for the armpit.
• Wednesday, October 4 – Harold Knudsen, Lt. Colonel, US Army (retired). He will discuss “James Longstreet and the American Civil War: The Confederate General Who Fought the Next War.”
The American Civil War is often called the first “modern war.” Sandwiched between the Napoleonic Wars and World War I, it spawned a host of “firsts” and is considered a precursor to the larger and more deadly 20th century wars. Confederate Gen. James Longstreet made overlooked but profound modern contributions to the art of war. Retired Lt. Col. Harold M. Knudsen explains what Longstreet did and how he did it in James Longstreet and the American Civil War: The Confederate General Who Fought the Next War.
This book draws heavily upon 20th century U.S. Army doctrine, field training, staff planning, command and combat experience, and is the first serious treatment of Longstreet’s generalship vis-a-vis modern warfare. Not everyone will agree with Knudsen’s conclusions, but it will now be impossible to write about the general without referencing this important study.
• Wednesday, Nov. 1 – Derek Maxfield, Assoc. Professor of History, GCC. He will give a presentation on “The Victorians and Spiritualism.”
Americans in the 19th century were increasingly drawn to the idea that it was possible to communicate with the dead beyond the grave. The Victorians, in particular, already romanticized death and sought to make the rituals surrounding it more attuned to their own values. They embraced the idea of a heavenly reunion in heaven and found solace in being able to communicate with lost loved ones through seances and other mediums. Many of the devices the Victorians created to deal with death stick with us today and have modern relevance.
• Wednesday, Dec. 6 – Dr. Aaron Sachs, Professor of History, Cornell University. He will present on “Stay Cool: Why Dark Comedy Matters in the Fight Against Climate Change.”
We’ve all seen the headlines: oceans rising, historic heat waves, mass extinctions, climate refugees. It feels overwhelming, like nothing can make a difference in combating this ongoing global catastrophe. How can we mobilize to save the world when we feel this depressed?
Stay Cool enjoins us to laugh our way forward. Human beings have used comedy to cope with difficult realities since the beginning of recorded timethe more dismal the news, the darker the humor. Using this rich tradition of dark comedy to investigate climate change, Aaron Sachs makes the case that gallows humor, a mainstay of African Americans and Jews facing extraordinary oppression, can cultivate endurance, persistence and solidarity in the face of calamity.
Environmentalism is probably the least funny social movement that’s ever existed. Stay Cool seeks to change that. Will comedy save the world? Not by itself, no. But it can put people in a decent enough mood to get them started on a rescue mission.
All events begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building on the Batavia Campus. Events are free and open to the public.
MEDINA – The grand finale of Medina’s Blue Thursdays concert on Aug. 10 has been cancelled due to the forecast of rain. Tommy Z Band was scheduled to close out the series at State Street Park. Tommy Z already has agreed to perform in Medina next year.
“We’ve poured over the data, consulted with meteorologists and have decided it would be best to cancel the show,” said Chris Busch, of ORG/medinaalive.com and co-promoter of the event.
“While we may not be able to predict the exact timing of bad weather, but the threat is high during our window of 4 to 8 p.m. – between 50%-70% and we simply can’t chance it.”
Vendors and the band typically start arriving at 4 p.m. That’s when the weather is expected to start turning bad for an outdoor concert.
“There’s a lot of factors to consider in making these decisions and it’s always tough,” Busch said. “However, we were able to do seven of eight gigs this year and that’s pretty good considering the rain we’ve had all summer.”
Despite the finale cancellation, Busch and the other concert promoters are pleased with the series.
“We had a great run this year,” said Ken Daluisio of the Print Shop, co-promoter of the series. “We averaged about 600 a night – some nights less, some more with a peak of 1,000 opening night. That’s a great thing for Medina. Better than half of those people are new to our village and they’re very impressed with what they find here– the village, the venue, the event– everything.”
The bands were sponsored by Modern Mercantile and Main Liquor. ORG coordinated the booking logistics, band arrangements and media. The Pront Shop handled site logistics and sign coverage. Dave Berry ran the 50/50 raffle and Andy Morris was parking coordinator. Karl Bauer of Crossborder Blues also promoted Blue Thursdays .
The food and beverage vendors included Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Parker’s Pit BBQ, WNY Empanadas, Catherine Street Bakery, Greenlief’s On The Go, Flower City Scoops, Blue Groove Coffee, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks.
“We’d also like to express our gratitude to Mayor Mike Sidari, the Village of Medina and especially Jason Watts and the Village of Medina DPW for their incredible support and cooperation in making this series possible,” Busch said.
Blue Thursdays 2024 will run Thursdays from June 20 thru August 8, with the exception of Independence Day.
Photo and information from Quicklee’s Convenience Stores
HAMLIN – Quicklee’s Convenience Stores, a leading family-owned business headquartered in Avon, proudly announces the grand opening of its newest store in Hamlin.
The store, which officially opened its doors on Monday, is the latest addition to the Quicklee’s family, showcasing the brand’s commitment to expansion and exceptional service.
The Hamlin store is located at 1722 Lake Rd. The store interior features new tiled floors, high ceilings, and Quicklee’s branding. Customers will see state-of-the-art fuel pumps with touch screen interfaces, and a dual bay car wash offering both soft touch and laser wash options.
“With every new store, we aim to expand our reach and serve new communities,” said
Ken Perelli, Quicklee’s VP and chief operating officer. “Hamlin is a testament to our ongoing commitment to bring convenience, value, and exceptional service to every corner of Upstate New York.”
This store opening follows closely after the extensive remodeling and reopening of the Hudson Ave. store in the city of Rochester. Looking ahead, Quicklee’s has set its sights on further expansion, with a new store planned for Niagara Falls and multiple locations in the Rochester region.
“Our Hamlin store is not just about the infrastructure; it’s about the people,” said
Brian Mongi, Quicklee’s general manager. “We’re proud to have brought on board a fantastic team from the Hamlin community, ensuring that our customers receive the top-notch service they’ve come to expect from Quicklee’s.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 August 2023 at 3:18 pm
MEDINA – The Medina school district announced it will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all students this school year.
Medina has been offering free breakfast and lunch to all students the past five years through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.
“This program has been a tremendous help to our students,” said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent. “It’s harder to learn when you’re hungry. We know that all of our kids will have a breakfast and lunch each day.”
The CEP program provides the opportunity for schools in high poverty areas to provide two nutritious meals every school day, while eliminating the stigma for those students previously identified as “low income.”
The CEP began in 2011 with three states piloting the program and then became a nationwide program in 2014. To be eligible for CEP at least 40 percent of students must be identified as “directly certified” for free meals without a meal application through programs such as SNAP, TANF and Medicaid. Medina school district has met this eligibility guideline.
For additional information about the program, contact the following:
Medina Jr.-Sr. High School, Principal Michael Cavanagh, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 1
Clifford Wise Intermediate School, Co-Principal Daniel Doctor, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 2
Oak Orchard Primary School, Principal Jennifer Stearns, at (585) 798-2700 ext. 3
ROCHESTER – Today, against the backdrop of Susan B. Anthony’s legacy and joined by local partners in government, Congressman Joe Morelle announced the introduction of legislation to protect our nation’s most foundational promise – the right to vote.
“Our democracy is under attack as extremists scheme to restrict ballot access and undermine faith in our elections—and we’re fighting back with the Freedom to Vote Act,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “This legislation will bring our nation one step closer to its foundational promise by protecting every eligible American’s right to vote in secure, accessible, and transparent elections.”
While extreme MAGA Republicans are attempting to hand power to election deniers, dark money groups, and corporate special interests, democrats are fighting to return the power to the people. The Freedom to Vote Act ensures every eligible American has the right to vote in a secure, accessible, transparent election, by:
Modernizing our election systems to keep them secure, ensure voter rolls are accurate, and give voters more opportunities to register through automatic voter registration, online voter registration, and same-day voter registration.
Setting national standards to protect access to the ballot and give people choices to vote through options such as early voting, voting by mail, and drop boxes.
Strengthening protections for voters from intimidation at the polls and frivolous challenges to their eligibility, as well as ensuring their ballot is counted and they are notified and given due process before it can be disqualified.
Improving access for voters with disabilities, military voters, and overseas voters.
A legislative summary of the Freedom to Vote Act can be found by clicking here.
“One of the most important principles of American Democracy is the right to vote,” said Rochester City Council President Miguel Meléndez. “Protecting that right for all citizens should be done at all costs. I stand with Congressman Morelle and elected leaders who are fighting to preserve those rights.”
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released the following statement about Joe Biden and Kathy Hochul’s migrant crisis rippling through our Central and Western New York communities.
“Under Joe Biden and Kathy Hochul’s far-left leadership, every community in America is now a border community. This crisis has been impacting Western New York, with the most recent example being migrants dropped off in Erie County and Monroe County. Just this week, 77 migrants were left in Rochester, and the news broke that a Venezuelan migrant was arraigned on rape charges in Cheektowaga, allegedly committing the heinous crime in front of a 3-year-old child. This horrific tragedy should have been prevented by our federal and state leaders, but they refuse to put US citizens and taxpayers first by protecting our communities,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.
“Since Hochul announced her dangerous and misguided plan to relocate poorly vetted migrants into our community, I have stood strongly in opposition to this reckless plan. Additionally, numerous counties in New York’s 24th District have courageously stood up to Hochul to protect local residents by passing resolutions in opposition to migrant relocation. Our communities are suffering under crushing inflation, record crime, and now an illegal migrant crisis. Central and Western New Yorkers should not be used as pawns in the lawless ‘sanctuary city’ policy imposed by Biden and Hochul.”
State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt also issued this statement in a separate press release:
“Another day in New York, and another failed Democrat policy has led to another victim.
“New York City continues to ship migrants to upstate communities with no transparency or communication, and now one of these migrants has been charged with rape.
“This disgusting individual was brought to Western New York courtesy of failed Democrat ‘sanctuary’ and open border policies which have created chaos across our country, state and now here in Western New York.
“All while hardworking, tax-paying New Yorkers and Americans continue to foot the bill.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 August 2023 at 8:44 am
Summer theater camp at Lake Plains Players ready for Disney classic
Photos by Tom Rivers
MIDDLEPORT – Belle, portrayed by Elaina Huntington of Medina, sings “Belle” in an early scene from Beauty and the Beast performed by the Lake Plains Players Summer Youth Theatre.
Belle is on her way to the bookstore in the town square.
There are 60 youths in the cast and another 15 in the stage crew for the production. Shows are 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Roy-Hart High School Auditorium at 54 State St., Middleport. Tickets are $10 for students and senior citizens, and $12 for adults. Click here for more information.
Huntington, 17, typically plays the roles of villains in theater. She was Ursula, a sea witch/sorceress in Little Mermaid for Medina in March. She was the evil Stepmother in Cinderella in the Lyndonville-Medina show in the spring 2022.
Huntington said she appreciates the opportunity to be on stage with the summer theatre program through Lake Plains. The camp is five weeks, a compressed schedule to put on a show with cast members from second grade right up to seniors in high school.
She said Beauty and the Beast sends a message, “to not judge a book by its cover.” Belle helps the Beast, while scary and gruff at first, to reconnect with his kinder, human side.
The beast is portrayed by Jonathan Clarcq, 17, of Newfane. Here he confronts Belle’s father Maurice, played by Zack Baron of Albion. Maurice is lost in the woods and seeks refuge on a cold night at the Beast’s lavish home. Maurice is an eccentric inventor.
Clarcq has been in six of the eight Lake Plains summer musicals.
“It’s a great way to get into theater,” Clarcq said about the summer program. “The atmosphere is very approachable. It’s very welcoming.”
Clarcq typically plays nice guys on stage. He was the prince in last summer’s Frozen. He said he has enjoyed being a character from the other spectrum.
“The Beast is out of my type-cast,” he said. “Being a mean and scary brute has been fun for me. It’s not a personality I usually get to show in my type-casting.”
Clarcq recommends the summer program at Lakes Plains Players.
“It’s a great way to form long-lasting friendships,” he said. “Everyone is super nice. I like being on stage where I can get lost in a character.”
These characters sing and dance to “Be Our Guest” while welcoming Belle to have dinner with the Beast.
Lake Plains charges the students about $80 for the five-week program. Some other youth theater camps cost about $500. Gabrielle Montgomery, the Lake Plains president, said the local group wants to keep the program affordable and accessible to the community.
The cast list quickly fills up once registration opens. Lake Plains would like to have even more children involved i the future so no one is turned away, she said.
The show is co-directed by Jen Trupo and Heather Rutherford. There are four assistant directors who were all in the summer theater program and are now college students or early in their careers as a teacher. Evan Steier, Annalise Steier, Qasim Huzair and Madison Pratt all have helped with the show as assistant directors.
“They have been invaluable,” Trupo said before Tuesday’s rehearsal.
Amir Huzair of Lyndonville plays the role of Gaston, a male-chauvinist who is determined to marry Belle, the most beautiful woman in the village.
Ava Blount is Lefou, Gaston’s loyal sidekick who aids Gaston in his plot to marry Belle. Lefou and the cast in this scene sing their praises to Gaston.
These three silly girls – Makenzie McGrath, Madelyn Elliott and Hannah Marker – are desperate to get the attention of Gaston.
McGrath of Medina is one of two cast members who has been in all eight of the Lake Plains summer musicals. Ella Trupo of Albion is the other.
Gwynivere Fuller plays the role of Lumière, a maître d’ turned into a charismatic candelabra. Lumière is one of the servants at the beast’s castle.
These enchanted characters include Gwynivere Fuller as Lumiere, Sarah Corser as Mrs. Potts and Abigail Pratt as Cogsworth. They want Belle to fall in love with the Beast to break a spell so they can be human again.
Rayna Balaban is Chip, a teacup and Mrs. Potts’ darling little boy.
Haas Foundation honors Bill Rakonczay at conference in Arkansas
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Bill Rakonczay
MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering teacher Bill Rakonczay has been named the first-ever Haas Educator of the Year by the Gene Haas Foundation.
Rakonczay has taught at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC) for more than 30 years. He received the honor at the annual Haas Conference in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The July conference features content for machinists, CNC instructors and other advanced manufacturing professionals.
Rakonczay was shocked when his name was called at the conference for the award.
“It was such an honor to receive this award and I am humbled to be the first educator to receive this,” he said. “It means a lot to me personally and to my program. I am very thankful for the faith and support that the Gene Haas Foundation has put in me and to the contributions they have made to increase the opportunities for my students in the skilled manufacturing industry. I am very proud to be partnered with them.”
Rakonczay’s program recently was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Haas Foundation to upgrade his classroom into a state-of-the-art facility. His school year was capped off when his student, Anthony Cercone, take a gold medal at the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta in 3 Axis CNC programming.
“You will never find a teacher who is more dedicated and committed to his craft, his students, his school, his community and Haas Automation,” former OCTEC Principal Michael Mann said about Rakonczay. “Bill eats, sleeps and drinks anything and everything Haas CNC Milling. We are very proud of the premier program he has single-handedly built over three decades. You will not find a better ambassador for Haas and CNC milling anywhere on the planet.”
His current principal, Nicole Goyette, had this to say about Rakonczay.
“In my over two decades in education I have not encountered an instructor more dedicated to his program and his students,” Goyette said. “His passion for the trade empowers his students and is unmatched. He is always striving to improve his instructional practice, as well as opportunities for his students. He works very closely with his industry advisory board to ensure the students are workplace ready with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.”
Goyette said Rakonczay seeks out opportunities for his students to engage with industry leaders such as Autodesk, Fusion 360, Titans of CNC Machining, Haas F1 Team and NASA’s HUNCH program.
“Bill knows that at the heart of teaching is the relationships you have with your students,” she said. “His instruction does not end at 2:30 when the students leave. He follows their home school extracurricular activities and makes sure to post on his classroom Facebook page all of their announcements and accomplishments. He will not let students fail or back off of their responsibilities here at OCTEC or at their home school. He is invested in their future, period.”
The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999, by its founder and owner Gene Haas, to support the community and the needs of the best CNC training programs in the world. Its goal is to expand the availability of high-quality manufacturing technology training worldwide.
Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
It is early August and the height of summer, which often means the peak of “bat season” for local health departments and when people more commonly have encounters with bats.
Bats can occasionally find their way into houses, particularly in older homes that are not properly sealed. This most often occurs during the summer nights. When you find a bat in your home, it is extremely important to safely capture the animal if it is suspected to have been in contact with people, pets or livestock so that it can be tested for rabies. If the bat cannot be captured, you should call the health department for advice and next steps.
In some situations, it is possible that a bat bite could go undetected. For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your room, if you see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or if you see a bat near someone who is unable to speak or is under the influence of drugs/alcohol, it is important to seek medical advice and have the bat tested.
To safely capture a bat:
Turn on room lights and close all the windows.
Close the room and closet doors.
Wait for the bat to land.
While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.
If you do not feel comfortable capturing the bat or cannot do it safely, contact your respective health department during regular business hours. If it is after regular business hours, contact your local county dispatch. For Orleans County, call (585) 589-5527. For Genesee County, call (585) 343-5000.
4 collection sites in Orleans County for socks and undergarments
Press Release, Catholic Charities
With the start of a new school year right around the corner, Catholic Charities is hosting a Socks and Undergarment Drive to benefit school-age kids and teenagers in grades Pre-K through 12th in need throughout Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Donations of new, unopened packages of socks and underwear are being accepted from Aug. 7 – 31 at Catholic Charities’ tri-county offices at 25 Liberty St., Batavia and 6470 Route 20A, Perry. All colors and sizes from children to adult are needed. The donated items will be distributed to community members in need later this summer.
“Back to school time can have a major impact on household budgets,” said Kate DiSalvo, tri-county district director, Catholic Charities. “In addition to the traditional supplies like pencils and notebooks, growing children in our community also need new socks and underwear. Any contribution you can make will provide hope and help ease the back-to-school burden for many local families.”
In addition to Catholic Charities offices, other drop-off locations include Genesee County: Ascension Church, 19 Sumner St., Batavia; Resurrection Church, 303 E. Main St., Batavia; Orleans County: Hoag Library, 134 S. Main St., Albion; St. Mark’s, 16789 Kenmore Road, Kendall; St. Mary’s, 9 S. Main St., Holley; Holy Trinity, 211 Eagle St., Medina; and Wyoming County: St. Michael Church, 171 N. Main St., Warsaw, St. Joseph,, 69 Leicester St., Perry; St Mary, 11095 St. Mary’s St., Pavilion.
Additional information about Catholic Charities’ services can be found at ccwny.org/services.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 August 2023 at 11:28 am
Rate is about $4 lower for towns that completed revaluations
ALBION – Property owners where towns have completed reassessments will see a sharp decline in their school tax rate in the Albion school district.
The Albion Board of Education approved the final tax warrant on Monday. The district isn’t increasing the tax levy again this year. It remains at $8,449,039. This is the 15th time in the past 17 years that the levy has either stayed the same or gone down.
But not all towns have the same tax rate because some towns have put off town-wide reassessments or revaluations.
Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Shelby all are doing the reassessments this year. Barre and Clarendon did them last year, while four other towns – Albion, Gaines, Murray and Yates are waiting. Some town officials was to see if the real estate sales boom will cool off.
For towns that haven’t done town-wide reassessments, the state uses equalization rates to try to make sure those property owners are paying their fair share of the taxes.
Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Elba all did townwide reassessments this year. Their total assessed values went up and their tax rates went down to $10.87 per $1,000 of assessed property. Carlton’s school tax rate was $14.63 a year ago.
Albion and Gaines, which are now four years without a town-wide reassessment, will have their property values billed at a $14.69-rate per $1,000 of assessed property.
The tax warrant approved by the board on Monday includes the following for the towns in the Albion school district:
Elba (Genesee County), 100 percent equalization rate, $10.87 school tax rate; 84-cent library tax rate ($11.71 total)
The district has a total assessed value of $632.2 million. That includes $236.2 million in the Town of Albion, $145.7 million in Carlton, $135.7 million in Gaines, $106.7 million in Barre, $6.0 million in Murray, $1.2 million in Kendall and $251,914 in Ridgeway.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) unveiled her agriculture plan and tax plan that work to support small and locally owned businesses and family farms across New York’s 24th District.
Earlier this month, Tenney visited multiple family farms and local businesses in Cayuga County and Wayne County to discuss their concerns and the Congresswoman’s efforts in Congress to support our farming and business community.
To outline her work to support our NY-24 producers and employers, Tenney unveiled her three-pillar agriculture plan and tax plan. Her agriculture plan focuses on supporting NY-24 specialty crops, bolstering New York’s dairy industry, and protecting American farmland from foreign interests.
Her tax plan centers around her work on the House Ways and Means Committee to build on the successes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, revitalize our communities, support our families, and ensure essential taxpayer protections.
“Small businesses and family-owned farms will always be the backbone of NY-24’s economy,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I’ve toured numerous small businesses and farms across the district to learn more about their daily operations and the challenges they face. It is imperative that we put forward policies in Congress that address these concerns and deliver lasting results for our community. Today, I released my agriculture plan and tax plan to highlight my efforts to unleash the potential of our rural communities and to give farmers, producers, and small business owners the certainty and opportunities they need to succeed.”
