Tips to Prepare for Retirement When You Don’t Have Kids

Many people build their retirement and estate plans around their children and grandchildren. Everything from where they live, to how they spend their time and money, to the legacy they want to leave behind is considered through the prism of their role as parents and grandparents. For those without kids and grandkids, a different formula may apply as these individuals may have more financial freedom and flexibility as they enter retirement and beyond. But they still need to be as vigilant – if not more – about planning for their later years. If this describes your situation, read on for tips to help you navigate the many decisions that factor into retirement and estate planning.

1. Prioritize saving for retirement

Since you’re not facing the costs for childcare and educational institutions, consider doubling-down on saving for retirement. You have the potential to spend decades in retirement pursuing your hobbies and goals. Calculate what it will take for you to live the lifestyle you want and compare it to your current savings. Create a plan to save the difference. Contribute as much as you can to your workplace savings plan, if you have one, and consider building up Roth IRA savings to help create a source of income that is potentially tax-free in retirement.

2. Recognize your long-term care challenges

Long-term care can be a challenge for anyone as they age, and there’s added complexity in situations where you may not be able to rely on family members to step in. Regardless of your situation, make it a priority to decide how you will manage healthcare costs in retirement. Medical expenses continue to rise, so it’s important to have adequate savings and insurance coverage. Explore your options through Medicare and your current or former employer and consider if long-term care insurance would benefit you. Additionally, consider researching caregiving options and long-term care facilities in your area so that you are familiar with the choices if you need them down the road.

3. Prepare for medical care

Before you experience a significant medical event – which can happen at any time – make sure to have an advanced directive, also known as a living will, in place. This document lets your spouse, extended family and friends know your preferences for treatment and gives you the opportunity to designate a healthcare power of attorney, who will be empowered to make decisions on your behalf if necessary. 

4. Have financial decision-makers in place

It’s also important to designate a spouse, friend, extended family member or professional to look out for your financial interests if you become incapacitated. Draw up documents to name a durable power of attorney to oversee your financial matters if you are unable to, including legal and tax matters. Keep in mind that choosing someone to help watch out for you does not mean you have to share your full financial situation and account numbers. Rather, a common approach is to share enough information so that the contact can step in, should a situation arise where you need help making financial decisions.

5. Plan your legacy

With no direct heirs in line to inherit your estate, you will want to consider what you’d like your legacy to be – including how your assets should be distributed upon your death. You may choose to leave your estate to any combination of family members, friends, charities, education institutions, or other causes that are important to you. Creating or updating your will is one of the best ways to articulate your wishes. 

Also consider using trusts, which sometimes allow more flexibility than a will, to help you meet specific legacy goals. Consult with a financial advisor, attorney and tax legal professional to develop a comprehensive legacy strategy that suits your ultimate goals.  

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Michael D. Lanuto, CRPC®, AWMA® is a Financial Advisor with S.M. Miller & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Albany, NY.  He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 8 years. To contact him: 518-949-2039; 4 Atrium Drive, Ste 200, Albany, NY, 12205; Michael.Lanuto@ampf.com; https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/michael.lanuto/lp/request-contact/3/.

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SUNY DELHI ANNOUNCES FALL WATER AEROBICS CLASS SESSION 1

DELHI, NY - The SUNY Delhi Fall Water Aerobics first session will run from  

Wednesday, September 6, 2023 through Monday, October 2, 2023 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the Kunsela Hall pool from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.  All registration forms must be received by the first day of class. Participants will not be allowed in the water without submitting a registration. There will be a charge of $50 per person for 12 sessions or $10 per person, per session. Please make checks payable to SUNY Delhi Swimming Pool, questions call John Kolodziej at 607-746-4263. Please check in your vehicles at University Police to get a free parking pass for the semester.   

For register forms and more information go to DelhiBroncos.com or Bronco Connect. 

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SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tiger Weekly Recap

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s cross country team opened the 2023 season on Saturday by posting a team total of 29 points to outdistance a four-team field and claim the team-title at the Vermont State University-Castleton Invitational hosted by the Spartans on their home course in Castleton, Vt. First-year harrier Lilianna Peters, Hinsdale, N.Y., Allegany-Limestone High School, won the race coving the 5000-meter trail course by running the fastest time in course history bettering the 24-runner field with a time of 20:37.

The Fighting Tiger women’s golf team captured the championship of their own SUNY Cobleskill Fall Invitational over the weekend hosted by the Fighting Tigers at the Cobleskill Golf & Country Club in Cobleskill, N.Y. by posting a team total of 150-over par 434 on the par 71 5251-yard loop. Cobleskill first-year player Lily Tobin, Kendall, N.Y., Kendall High School, captured the individual tournament title by firing a round of 15-over-par 86 to outdistance the field at the event.

Senior Nick Logan, Queensbury, N.Y., Queensbury High School, led the Fighting Tiger men’s cross country team to victory at the 2023 Vermont State University-Castleton Invitational hosted by the Spartans on their home course in Castleton, Vt. Logan placed second overall in the 41-runner field by covering the 8000-meter trail course in a time of 29:17as Cobleskill recorded a team score of 30 points to defeat the four-team field.

The women’s volleyball team opened the season by dropping three matches on a road-trip to western New York over the weekend. On Friday evening the Fighting Tigers dropped a pair of games at the Keuka Classic hosted by Keuka College in Keuka Park, N.Y. Cobleskill lost to the Trailblazers of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) 3-2 by set scores of 21-25, 25-21, 18-25, 26-24 and 2-25 prior to falling to the host Wolves 3-0 by scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-14. The Orange & Black then closed their road-trip on Saturday by losing to the host Hawks of Hilbert College in Hamburg, N.Y. 3-1 by scores of 25-22, 19-25, 11-25 and 18-25 to fall to 0-3 overall on the year. Senior middle hitter/outside hitter 

Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.H., Nashua North High School, had a successful weekend for the team averaging 2.33 kills, 1.25 digs and 0.58 blocks per contest.

Sophomore Joshua House, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saratoga Springs High School, was the Fighting Tiger men’s golf team’s top finisher over the weekend at the 2023 SUNY Cobleskill Fall Invitational hosted by the Orange & Black at the par 70, 6163-yard Cobleskill Golf & Country Club in Cobleskill, N.Y finishing tied for 6^th place overall with a score of seven-over par 77. Led by House’s efforts the team fired a round of 41-over par 321 to place third overall in the field of six teams.

The men’s soccer team opened the 2023 season with a pair of losses over the weekend losing to the host Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams, Mass. on Friday by a 3-0 margin before returning home on Saturday to drop a 4-0 decision to the visiting Bears of SUNY Potsdam. Fighting Tiger first-year goalkeeper Adam Champlin, South Kortright, N.Y., South Kortright High School, recorded 17 saves in his first two starts in net for Cobleskill.

The Cobleskill women’s soccer team opened their 2023 campaign on Sunday by dropping a 2-0 non-league decision to the host Soaring Eagles of Elmira College in Elmira, N.Y. to open the year at 0-1 overall. Fighting Tiger first-year goalkeeper Jojo Leubner, Marcellus, N.Y., Marcellus High School, turned in a strong effort between the pipes for the Orange & Black in her first career start recording six saves on the afternoon.

UPCOMING HOME CONTESTS:

Volleyball vs. Utica College 9/6, Russell Sage College 9/12, Bay Path College 9/17      

                                                            

Men’s Soccer vs. Albany College of Pharmacy 9/20, VTSU-Johnson 9/23

Women’s Soccer vs. Bryant & Stratton (Albany) 9/27, VTSU-Johnson 9/23

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country host Steven A. Warde Invitational on 9/9

Men’s & Women’s Golf host Mount St. Mary’s College 9/10 @ Cobleskill Golf & Country Club  

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Upcoming $1 cigarette tax hike projected to save 15,300 New Yorkers’ lives

Higher costs deter youth from smoking and help smokers quit

 

(ONEONTA, N.Y.) August 31, 2023- Beginning Sept. 1, 2023, New York State’s cigarette tax will be the highest in the nation. The $1 hike is the first cigarette tax increase since 2010 and changes the tax from $4.35 to $5.35 per pack of 20 cigarettes. Research shows a 10% increase in tobacco prices would be expected to decrease tobacco consumption by 4% in high-income countries.[i]

Increasing the cost of cigarettes is one of the most effective ways to promote smoking cessation and prevent youth initiation. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) projects the impact of the higher tax will save 15,300 New Yorkers’ lives and prevent 14,400 youth under age 18 from becoming adults who smoke.[ii]

"Young people generally don't have a lot of disposable income.  By raising the price of cigarettes, it decreases the chances that they will purchase a product that will lead to a lifetime of addiction," said Jennifer Hill, Community Engagement Coordinator, Tobacco-Free Communities | Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie.

Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily, first tried smoking by age 18.  Evidence shows that increasing the cost of a pack of cigarettes leads to people quitting cigarettes among groups that are known to be price-sensitive, including youth, and low-income populations.  Currently, according to the New York Smoker’s Quitline online savings calculator, a New York State resident will spend a minimum of $4,000 a year to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.

Surveys have shown that about 70% of smokers want to quit and can be motivated by price increases.  The impact can also be greater in rural counties of New York State as the smoking rate is known to be higher in rural vs. urban areas.

"Currently, the state average adult smoking rate is 12%. However, the adult smoking rates remain high in Delaware (16.1%), Otsego (18.3%) and Schoharie (20.3%) counties," added Hill.

Support Available for People Who Want to Quit

“With the expected increase of people attempting to quit smoking in response to the cigarette tax increase, having affordable and accessible cessation resources for our community is incredibly important,” said Mindy Robinson, Liaison for Bassett Research Institute and URMC’s Wilmot Cancer Institute.

Locally, The Quit Center at Wilmot Cancer Institute is a free resource for Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie Oneida, Herkimer, Madison and Chenango County residents looking to quit. They offer a free six-month smoking cessation program for ages 21 and older, which includes counseling with a tobacco treatment specialist, delivery of a 12 week supply of nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum or lozenges and text message support. Call 585-504-9461 to get started.

Another resource is the New York State Smokers’ Quitline, which is a free and confidential service for all New York State residents who wish to overcome use of commercial tobacco and/or vape products. Participants can receive individualized coaching and assistance with quit planning from highly trained tobacco treatment specialists, text and online chat support, and a free starter supply delivery of nicotine replacement therapy medications such as patches, gum and/or lozenges for those 18 and older. Residents of all ages may contact the Quitline for support and educational materials. Visit nysmokefree.com anytime or text QUITNOW to 333888 for more information, or call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) seven days a week, beginning at 9 a.m.

About Tobacco-Free Communities | Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie (TFC-DOS): TFC-DOS is a NYS Bureau of Tobacco Control grant-funded program held by St. Peter’s Health Partners. TFC-DOS works to increase support for New York state’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Visit www.gotobaccofreedos.org for more information.

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Harvest Festival Returns to The Farmers’ Museum on September 16 & 17

Cooperstown, New York — Celebrate the bounty of fall as Harvest Festival returns to The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, taking place Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Since 1978, this family-friendly event has grown to become a regional favorite, bringing together a wide variety of performers, artisans, and vendors.  Situated on the museum’s picturesque grounds near Otsego Lake, it offers the perfect blend of new attractions and trusted favorites. Visit FarmersMuseum.org for a complete schedule.

 

One-day entry to Harvest Festival: $15 adults (13-64), $12.50 seniors (65+), $6 juniors (7-12), children 6 and younger and museum members are free. Purchase tickets at the museum on the day of the event. Free museum admission is also available for those receiving SNAP benefits (up to 4 people) with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

 

 

Find two days of live performances. Hear music by folk singer and songwriter Kevin McKrell both days. Bill Ackerbauer, an acoustic guitarist who dabbles in harmonica, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and other instruments, will perform his family program on Sunday. Musicians Jim Kimball and Karen Canning perform nineteenth-century tunes on the porch at Bump Tavern. Mr. Kimball has added to the festival’s ambiance since the late 1970s. The Catskill Puppet Theater will hold a performance of Hiawatha on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. More performances will be announced soon.

 

There is an abundance of activities for families and kids at Harvest Fest. At the Crafts Table, kids can make corn husk dolls, paper strip pumpkins, and autumn greeting cards. There will also be face painting, scavenger hunts, and a children’s hay bale maze. Outdoor games include cornhole, nine pins, and some traditional 19^th-century games. Ride the Empire State Carousel. At the Farmstead, find cider pressing, corn shelling and grinding, and as well as horse-drawn wagon rides. In the blacksmith shop, kids can discover how metal is shaped by hammering molding clay which has the feel of hammering hot steel. Have the family sit for an authentic tintype photograph on both Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (weather permitting).

 

Animals always take the spotlight at Harvest Festival. Aside from our beautiful farm animals, Hinman Hollow Sport Training will dazzle you with their canine agility and obedience demonstrations.

In the Main Barn, view the exhibit Growing Tomorrow’s Farmers which celebrates the role children played on family farms from the 19th century to the present. The exhibit, featuring photographs of several families who live in the region, will close on October 29.

 

If you like historical trades, you won’t be disappointed. Many artisans show off their skills each year. Get hands-on with rope making, coopering, and see spinning and fiber art demonstrations.  You’ll also find, quilters, a jeweler, woodworkers, a porcelain painter, bakers, maple producers, and artists, featuring many unique items from the region. 

 

Harvest Festival gives visitors the opportunity to join in and assist our interpreters with common activities from the 19^th century such as the harvesting of potatoes. There are interesting happenings in each building in the Country Village including the Blacksmith Shop, the Print Shop, and the Farmhouse.

 

An abundance of delicious foods from the season’s harvest awaits festival-goers including the mouthwatering roasted corn from Our Green Acres, sausage from Beckmann’s, desserts from Kings Kakery, and great Greek cuisine from The Grapevine (Sunday only). You will also find homemade pies and fresh baked goods from the Pomona Grange.

  

Get a head start on your holiday shopping with some new and unique gifts for everyone in the family at Todd’s General Store and The Farmers’ Museum Store.

   

Visit Fenimore Art Museum on the same day–located just across the street. Get two great museums for one low price when you purchase a two-way ticket for $25 or $22.50 seniors. Two-way tickets can be purchased at the admissions desk of either museum during Harvest Festival. See Fenimore’s new fall exhibitions featuring A Cabinet of Curious Matters: Work by Callahan and Whitten and others–plus Randy Johnson: Storytelling with Photographs, now on view through December 3. The museum and Fenimore Gift Shop are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

For an up-to-date schedule and other information, please visit FarmersMuseum.org. The Farmers’ Museum is located at 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, N.Y., 13326.

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ASF Readies for Warriors in Motion Golf Event

WINDHAM - The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) will be hosting its popular Warriors in Motion (WIM) golf program at the Windham Country Club on September 5-7. 

 

U.S. Army veteran Lou Ferrari has been attending WIM programs for five years and has been playing golf for about that long as well. He has attended this yearly golf event twice since he was introduced to the ASF, and he’s looking forward to hitting the links in Windham again. “It’s nice to meet and get involved with other veterans again,” he explained. “You get to see some old friends from the past and meet new faces and get to talk about what you’ve done with your life. I’m always willing to give people some activities to help them in their recovery and stay active.”

 

Ferrari and nine other wounded veterans will arrive at the ASF’s Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday afternoon to meet with the ASF staff and volunteers that will be joining them at the country club during the week. The group of veterans and volunteers will then share a lunch together before going to the golf course to meet the Windham Country Club’s Head PGA Pro Jesse Muller and his team of instructors. The warriors will then learn golf basics and receive instruction throughout the afternoon. Once their sessions are over, the warriors will check into their hotels before returning to the ASF for a catered dinner at 6 p.m.

 

Wednesday will be a full day of golf, as the ASF shuttle bus will retrieve the warriors from their hotels at 9 a.m. and head to the course. There will be more instruction throughout the entire day and even some course play in the afternoon after lunch at Mulligan’s Pub, the country club’s own restaurant. The plan is to have the warriors golf for six hours until 3:30 p.m., when they will head back to their hotel rooms to wind down before another dinner at the ASF lodge. 

 

The participants will meet at the country club at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning to play a round of golf on the course before they break for lunch at Mulligan’s Pub again at 11:30 a.m. Once lunch is finished, the WIM team will say goodbye to each other and depart. 

 

“The ASF’s WIM program keeps me busy and it’s nice meeting up with other veterans and sharing that camaraderie that we have with each other,” Ferrari said about why he enjoys visiting the ASF. “I think back about how I’ve been out of the service for 50 years, but that first 30 or 35 years I was working, having a family and being busy. I didn’t have much time for these programs or even know about them. I’m glad to be a part of them now and to spread the word about how they can help people like me stay active.”

 

The ASF’s Warriors in Motion program provides participating injured United States servicemen and women with a basic knowledge and practice of wellness and the importance of lifelong healthy living. All WIM programs are goal-oriented and empower the warrior to take charge of their own fitness and wellness.

 

Warriors in Motion is funded by donations that were generously given to the Adaptive Sports Foundation. Thanks to these donations, the Adaptive Sports Foundation will be able to provide equipment, water bottles, all meals, snacks, water, sports drinks, sunscreen, bug spray and ponchos (if necessary) for this upcoming event.

 

If you’d like to donate to the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s Warriors in Motion program, or any of the other programs the ASF has to offer, please visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org. 

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40 P-TECH Students Complete Career-Readiness Internship with New York Power Authority

Internship Program Helps Diversify Future Workforce

Through Soft Skills Development and Hands-on Technical Experience with Energy Projects

 

View Video of Final Presentations, Photos, a TV Clip and Press Release on Buffalo Canals Project

 

 

40 Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) interns got a head start on their career plans this summer by working alongside New York Power Authority (NYPA) employees on a series of energy projects that will benefit the utility industry. The annual paid internship program—expanded from 28 participants last year— helps students from underserved communities build the skills required to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) after graduation. Many students also earned national certifications in fields such as energy auditing, HVAC maintenance, and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (drones).

 

Tabitha Griggs a Niagara County Community College student, whose team studied 10 fixed ladders at the Niagara Power Project and presented a series of recommendations to help meet upcoming federal safety standards, said her internship definitely solidified her career plans.

 

“It was so exciting to be here and learn so much. I’d go home every night and give my mom a 40-minute TED talk,” she said. “I thought being an intern meant copying and bringing coffee, but working on projects that employees would have done if we weren’t here made it feel like a real job.”

 

Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll thanked the students for their contributions at a wrap-up event last week where they presented their projects.

 

“This prestigious P-TECH program is part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan and is one important way we are supporting and building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve,” Driscoll said. “The future of our industry is in good hands. You have a head-start on your goals and careers, and your passion for STEM is good news for NYPA and the state.”

 

The P-TECH interns, from underserved communities near NYPA generation and transmission assets, spent six weeks working alongside NYPA employees on hands-on technical projects that furthered New York State’s clean energy goals. They also received one-to-one mentorship and participated in weekly financial literacy workshops where they learned about budgeting and investment, culminating in a competitive “stock pitch” presentation. The program is open to high school students and those in community college P-TECH programs, targeting two-year associate degrees in a STEM field. As part of its DEI efforts, NYPA ensures that students of color have more opportunities to join and advance in the clean energy sector.

 

Interns participated in eight projects in Western New York, Central New York, the Capital region and Southeastern New York:

 

• Northern Long-Eared Bat Detection. Students learned about the importance of vegetation and ecosystem management under NYPA’s transmission lines. Teams flew drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to identify and catalogue endangered bats as they learned about the importance of ensuring an environment where wildlife can survive.
  
  
• Canals Climate Change Modelling. Interns used mapping software to make climate models and determine projections on how climate change will affect the New York State Canal system, and the communities that live along the waterways.
  
  
• South East New York Customer Energy Audits. Students learned about lighting and HVAC systems and then applied their learnings to completing inventories and recommending replacement and upgrade plans to make NYPA customer sites more energy efficient.
  
  
• Asset Reconciliation.   Focusing on cybersecurity, students took inventory lists from a wide variety of IT toolsets and pulled the data into a common platform to identify gaps in coverages that could be remediated.

 

• Ferguson Electric and Buffalo Maritime Center. Interns shadowed Ferguson Electric’s safety department on several projects including the new Buffalo Bills stadium. They also experienced a technical skill-building opportunity by helping construct a full-sized replica of the Seneca Chief boat that will commemorate the bicentennial of the 1825 inaugural voyage along the Erie Canal.

 

• CONMED Customer Energy Audit. Students learned about the assessment process and toured the CONMED facility to conduct an energy audit to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing complex. They made recommendations on how the customer could cut costs and be more energy efficient.

 

• Niagara Fixed Ladder Assessment. Interns learned about the Niagara Power Project and inspected 10 fixed ladders to determine if they would meet upcoming federal safety requirements. A report presented recommended upgrades to ensure a safe work environment and avoid injuries.

 

• Floatovoltaics. The team visited several ground and rooftop solar installations and looked to find a viable location to host a floating panel system. They determined what type of water bodies would be most suitable, and considered environmental criteria, benefits and costs.

 

“You will go far in the future,” NYPA Vice President of Environmental Justice Kaela Mainsah told the students. “The education, skills and experience you got this summer will be very important, and your networking and contacts even more so.”

Frederick Walsh, superintendent with the NYC Department of Education, said, “This was an opportunity for students to have real world experiences that inspire them to pursue careers they may not have known of otherwise. We want students to have careers that give them long-term economic stability.”

 

For more information about NYPA’s P-TECH program, email  Alexandra.DeRosa@nypa.gov in NYPA’s Environmental Justice department.

 

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Bassett Medical Center Receives Surgical Quality Partner Distinction and Accreditation from American College of Surgeons

Cooperstown, NY - Bassett Medical Center has received the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Surgical Quality Partner distinction including the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This recognizes the institution’s dedication to surgical quality and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in surgical care.   Dr. Stephanie Oceguera, Director of Bassett’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program, said: "We have a phenomenal team that is dedicated to ensuring the best care for our patients. We continually strive to improve our outcomes and are very proud to have earned this distinction from the American College of Surgeons."   “Thank you, Dr. Oceguera, for your exemplary leadership, and to your entire team for their ongoing pursuit of quality and dedication to ever-improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, President and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network.   “The MBSAQIP accreditation is conferred upon inpatient and outpatient bariatric surgery centers in the U.S. and Canada that have undergone an independent, voluntary, and rigorous peer evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards. This accreditation not only promotes uniform standard benchmarks, but also supports continuous quality improvement,” states ACS.   Bassett’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program has been accredited by the MBSAQIP since its inception in 2012.   Other ACS quality programs in which Bassett participates include:   National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) collects data and provides in-depth analysis, helping surgeons and hospitals understand their quality of care compared to similar hospitals with similar patients.   Trauma Verification, Review, and Consultation Program (VRC) helps hospitals evaluate and improve trauma care as well as provide objective, external reviews of institutional capability and performance.   Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited cancer programs undergo on-site visits in which CoC site reviewers visit the cancer program to ensure compliance with standards.   As stated on ACS’s website: “Improving surgical care leads to greater access for patients, fewer complications, lower cost of care, and better outcomes. ACS accreditation and verification programs, products, guidelines, and tools improve quality in trauma, cancer, breast disease, bariatrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and overall surgical care.”   “For more than 100 years, quality has been the cornerstone of the American College of Surgeons. As the preeminent voice on surgical quality in healthcare, [ACS] sets the highest quality standards for surgeons and hospitals alike—and then works to exceed them.”

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Audubon to Host Andy Mason on September 15 - Emptying the Bucket: The Alaska Frontier

By: Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society For more information contact: Susan O'Handley, Publicity Chairperson, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, Oneonta, NY; (607) 643-5680; info@doas.us

[Oneonta, NY- REGIONAL] Join Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 7:30pm at the Elm Park United Methodist Church in Oneonta, NY for a special program with DOAS Co-President, Andy Mason. Long time Audubon leader Andy Mason will present a program on his 10 week camping adventure across northern Canada and Alaska in the summer of 2022.  Says Andy, “I can’t remember when I didn’t dream of going to Alaska . . . and time was running out!”  So he set off with his dog in a 17 ft. camper to fulfill the vision.  Traveling through five Canadian provinces and two territories, and crossing the Continental Divide and the Arctic Circle, he experienced remoteness, wildlife, native communities, thawing glaciers, fires, incredible scenery, and the midnight sun.

Land of the Midnight Sun; Photo by Andy Mason.

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