(Barry Cole 6-6-14)
Video Entertainment Plus was chosen as the “Business of the Years” Owner Andy Matviak comments:
(Andy Matviak 6-6-14)
The Awards will be given out at tonight’s annual Sidney Chamber Of Commerce dinner at the Sacred Heart Church on Liberty Street starting at 5:30 PM.
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New York State is no longer requiring transgender people, to offer proof of surgery, when asking the state to change the gender on their birth certificate. The state will now issue a new birth certificate, if the person provides an affidavit from a medical provider, stating they have received “appropriate” treatment. The policy change had long been sought by advocates, who say an individual’s official gender, shouldn’t depend on whether they had a medical procedure. Five states have already made similar policy changes.
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Cal Harris, the Tioga County businessman who has been convicted of murdering his wife twice, spoke for the first time in a special interview with CBS. Facing his third trial in the fall, Harris gave his first TV interview to the 48 HOURS program. The interview will air Monday at 10 p.m. Michele Harris went missing the night of Sept. 11th, 2001. Although amidst a bitter divorce, Michele and Cal were living in the same Tioga County home when she vanished after leaving a boyfriend’s house. Harris has been convicted twice of murdering Michele, but both cases have been thrown out on appeal.
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State Troopers arrested 34 year old Craig West of Windsor for 3rd & 4th degree Criminal Mischief 3rd, Disabling Equipment to Prevent Request for Emergency, & 2nd degree Harassment. The arrest resulted from a complaint in Windsor, where West has allegedly engaged in a physical altercation, and smashed a phone that the victim was using to get help from Police, damaged other property and injuring the victims head & jaw. West apprehended and arrested, he was arraigned in the Town of Colesville Court and remanded to the Broome County Jail on bail, an order of protection has been requested against him.
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Greek yogurt maker Chobani has laid off employees at its plant in Chenango County, but has also charted a new direction for growth. Chobani would only say it reduced certain positions at the plant in New Berlin, as well as temporary positions at the facility in Idaho. The local plant will continue to produce for east coast customers, as well as markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. Chobani also opened a new business service center in Norwich.
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National Guard members may soon have the right for memorial headstones, thanks to a push from Rep. Richard Hanna. The House of Representatives passed the Guard Units and Reservists Deserve Remembrance Act. The act allows National Guard and Reserve members, who have served more than six years, to receive a memorial headstone or marker when they pass away. The GUARD Remembrance Act is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It will head to the Senate for a vote.
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(Barry Cole 4-2-14)
The Business of the Years is Video Entertainment Plus; owner Andy Matviak was also surprised to win:
(Andy Matviak 4-2-14)
Both will be honored at the Sidney Chamber’s Annual Dinner on Friday, June 6th at the Sacred Heart Banquet Hall, on Liberty Street in Sidney.
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Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced that he was very pleased with the final state budget, especially with regards to education:
(Silver 4-2-14)
State lawmakers finished voting on budget bills late Monday, the governor signed the budget into law on Tuesday.
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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Department arrested 43 Year old Gary Cameron of Norwich on charges of –Criminal Contempt, Aggravated Harassment, & criminal Mischief. Cameron was charged following a domestic dispute in Norwich, destroying the victim’s property, with a 6-year-old child present. Cameron was arraigned & was released on his own recognizance and scheduled to reappear in court at a later date. He was arrested again for violating an order of protection issued by the court & was then remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $500 cash bail pending court action.
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The State Labor Department released unemployment rates for February 2014. The state’s private sector job count rose by 117,200 since February 2013, & the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.8%. The economy added 12,800 private sector jobs in February, bringing the state’s private sector job count to a record high of 7,543,100. Locally, Chenango County’s unemployment rate is 7.7%, Delaware County 8.3% and Otsego County 7.6%
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New York State of Health reported that 1,2 million new Yorkers completed their applications and 865,487 have enrolled for coverage since the launch of the Marketplace on October 1st. on Monday, the deadline day, almost 39,000 New Yorkers enrolled in coverage & nearly 134,000 enrolled over the last week.
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A few thousand protesters rallied against New York’s gun-control laws yesterday, at an Albany rally featuring an appearance from Donald Trump. The protesters filled the south end of Albany’s Empire State Plaza, as speakers berated Governor Cuomo and the state Legislature, for passing the New York Safe Act last year. Trump was joined at the rally by Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rob Astorino and 2010 GOP nominee Carl Paladino, who is considering a run on a 3rd party line. State police reported that the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.
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Trout season opened Tuesday in New York State, however, Anglers said that rivers were too fast for them to catch anything. Fishing licenses are required for anyone over the age of 16; more information is available at dec.ny.gov. The season runs through October 15th.
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