Audubon to host Behavioral Ecologist, Anne Clark for Special Program on Crows

Through the Eyes and Lives of Crows Opportunities and Challenges of Anthropogenic Change

Join DOAS on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 7:30pm on Zoom for a special presentation on Crows with Behavioral Ecologist, Anne Clark (FREE and open to the public.)! Image: American Crow, Photo by Steven Chu, 2018 Audubon Photography Awards Anthropogenic change, especially urbanization and climate change, is challenging all organisms, including humans, to adapt. Evolutionary ecologists predict that behaviorally more flexible animals, especially those that learn and transmit information socially, will adapt most successfully. Crows and ravens (Corvus sp.) certainly fit our idea of behaviorally flexible, generalist species with plenty of cognitive capacity; indeed, a number of Corvus species are now well-established in urban areas worldwide. Based on a 30-year study of one population in Ithaca, NY, Anne Clark will introduce you to the complex social world of our American crows, how they do or don’t fit our expected “urban adaptor”, but also how even small cities are dynamic environments that continue to challenge them. Finally, she will extend the discussion to crow species globally, to the scientific and ecological value of this surprisingly diverse group, and to the possibility that many crow species could disappear in the face of complacency and anthropogenic change. Registration is required - visit https://doas.us/through-the-eyes-and-lives-of-crows/   About the Presenter Anne Clark is a behavioral ecologist broadly interested in the evolution and ecology of animal social behavior. She has studied scent signals and social behavior of prosimians for her PhD (U. Chicago) and post-doctoral research (U. Witwatersrand, South Africa), but also parent-offspring relations in birds, yawning in parakeets (thermoregulation and contagious social behavior!), and for the last 20+ years, the social ecology of American crows in suburban Ithaca, NY. Ongoing studies with her wonderful grad and undergrad students include genetics, communication, learning and personality. The advent of West Nile Virus in our long-term study population of crows has added a focus on social and demographic effects of injury and disease for Anne and her collaborator, Dr. K.J. McGowan. Her students have extended crow research to new species: Fish Crows, Mariana Crows and Large-billed Crows. At Binghamton University, she has taught classes in “Animal Behavior”, “Primate Behavioral Ecology” and “Behavior and Disease” plus diverse graduate seminars. Image: Anne B. Clark, associate professor of Biological Sciences photographed in a field in Ithaca, NY, December 01, 2012.

FOR EVENT CALENDARS:  Join Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 7:30pm on Zoom for a special presentation on Crows with Behavioral Ecologist, Anne Clark (FREE and open to the public.)!  Registration is required - visit https://doas.us/through-the-eyes-and-lives-of-crows/ .

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SUNY Cobleskill Women's Volleyball Drops 3-2 Home Decision to MCLA in Non-League Action

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s volleyball team finished the home portion of their season schedule on Tuesday evening losing a marathon affair to the visiting Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 3-2 by set scores of 21-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22 and 11-15 in non-conference action. With the loss the Fighting Tigers are now 9-13 overall on the season while the Trailblazers improve to 10-11 on the year. 

In a match that went 2:14 and featured 21 ties and 22 lead changes, it was the Trailblazers that came out on top taking advantage of 32 Cobleskill attack errors to claim the victory. 

Cobleskill was led the front-line trio of sophomore outside hitter MacKenzie Larson, Winterset, Iowa, Winterset High School, who had a match high of 19 kills to go with 17 digs and a pair of service aces, sophomore middle hitter Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.H., Nashua High School, who had 17 kills and four solo blocks and senior middle hitter Jillian Nitchman, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Ballston Spa High School, who chipped in 11 kills and a solo block on the night.   

The Orange & Black will close out their regular season on Wednesday, October 27, when they travel to Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. to meet the Raptors of Bard College beginning at 7:00 p.m.  

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Vizient, Inc Recognizes Bassett’s Supply Chain Savings Thanks to Pandemic-Induced Improvements

Bassett Healthcare Network was recently recognized by Vizient, Inc. for its demonstrated excellence in lowering supply chain costs. Its designation as a “participation leader” in its national Impact Standardization Program reflects Bassett’s participation in all 13 Impact programs offered by Vizient.

 

Savings through Vizient’s rebate programs total about $200,000—a significant amount, but only a fraction of a whole. “We saved over six million dollars in 2021,” says Joseph Ruffino III, Bassett’s Supply Chain director. “That’s 1.5 million more than the year before. My team is always looking for opportunities to reduce costs and this accomplishment is something we feel very good about.”

 

Bassett’s recent supply chain advancements go further than just a better bottom line. COVID-19 pushed the supply chain to its limits, but the changes needed to meet those challenges have improved the whole system. 

 

Russell Grant is not in Bassett’s Supply Chain department, but as director of Infection Control and Prevention, he knows the pinch of low supply and high demand as well as anyone else. “As the pandemic intensified in our region last fall, we quickly realized that the standard monthly meeting was not going to cut it,” remembers Grant. “We needed a way of knowing which supplies were being utilized where. When there was a shortage, we needed a process that would get the best possible replacements as quickly as possible.”

 

Ruffino enfolded Grant into a new Product Evaluation Team (PET) that included representatives from each network entity, plus Nursing and Infection Control. They met virtually weekly—and more often if an urgent situation arose. Meanwhile, Supply Chain streamlined their request and replacement processes. The result was a responsive system that identified problems, encouraged robust dialogue and delivered solutions.

 

Although the new and improved PET was created in response to the pandemic, the system has been such a success that it will continue even when the pandemic ends.

 

“I’ll give you an example of what this team can accomplish,” says Grant. “A few months ago, a PET hospital rep recommended a different brand of Foley wipes—the disposable sanitary napkins used to clean patient catheters. Within days, the other entities were trying samples. Within weeks, everyone in the network had switched.

 

“That’s a seemingly small change, but it has a big impact,” Grant continues. “Better wipes are better at cleaning, reducing patient infections. They also make nurses doing Foley care happier. And it just so happens that these were also a little cheaper—which can add up at the volumes we use network-wide.”

 

“Lowering supply chain costs is crucially important – yet often under-recognized – as a way of improving patient care across our network,” says Jeff Joyner, Bassett’s chief operating officer. “Smarter purchasing and contracting isn’t just about saving money. It frees up resources that can then be invested in caring for our patients and supporting our caregivers in other ways. It is the kind of improvement that makes other improvements possible. I am thankful for the hard work of all those in our Supply Chain Service Center who worked with Vizient on this achievement.”

 

Vizient, Inc, out of Irving, TX, helps not-for-profit health systems across the country develop strategies to deliver quality services. Bassett has been a member organization with Vizient since 2007.

 

###

About Bassett Healthcare Network

Bassett Healthcare Network is an integrated health system that provides care and services to people living in a 5,600 square mile region in upstate New York. The organization includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two skilled nursing facilities, and other health partners in related fields. To learn more about services available throughout the Bassett Healthcare Network, visit www.bassett.org. Follow Bassett on Facebook at facebook.com/Bassett.Network.

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SUNY's LARSON NAMED NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK

The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced today that SUNY Cobleskill sophomore MacKenzie Larson, Winterset, Iowa, Winterset High School, has been named NAC Volleyball Rookie-of-the-Week for the week ending on October 25, 2021. This marks the second time this season the Iowa native has earned conference player-of-the-week honors.   

The sophomore outside hitter played a major role in the team’s taking two-of-three defeating the visiting Spartans of Castleton University 3-1 by set scores of 25-20, 25-12, 15-25 and 25-22 prior to splitting a pair of North Atlantic Conference (NAC) contests at SUNY Delhi in Delhi, N.Y. on Sunday losing the host Broncos in the opener 3-1 by scores of 15-25, 25-21, 12-25 and 21-25 before defeating the Wildcats of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-12 and 17-15 to improve to 9-12 overall including a 4-4 record in NAC action. 

In 13 sets played Larson averaged: 2.08 kills, 3.84 digs, 3.31 points and 1.1 service aces per game during the week.  

For the year the Winterset High School alumnus is averaging: 2.71 kills, 3.81 digs, 3.94 points and 1.04 service aces per set while posting a .127 hitting percentage. Larson is currently ranked second among NCAA Division III programs in aces per set.   

Fighting Tiger Head Coach Scott Hill feels that the Winterset, Iowa native fills a number of roles for the Fighting Tigers on many levels.    

“Even though MacKenzie is a sophomore, she has been a leader on and off the court since she arrived. She is someone her teammates trust and count on during matches both offensively and defensively. MacKenzie is a dependable hitter that can find a hole in the blocks and is able to produce points on offense and defensively she is one of our most consistent passers we have who is always in position to make a great pass from either a serve or a hit.” 

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Tuesday October 26 when they travel to Utica, N.Y. to face the Pioneers of Utica College for a non-conference match beginning at 7:00 p.m.  

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FIGHTING TIGER VOLLEYBALL CLOSES REGULAR SEASON WITH 3-0 NON-CONFERENCE WIN AT BARD COLLEGE

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s volleyball team closed out the regular season on Wednesday evening by shooting down the host Raptors of Bard College in non-conference road action by set scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-12. With the victory the Fighting Tigers close out the regular season with a 10-13 overall record while the Raptors fall to 7-15 overall on the year.  

Sophomore outside hitter MacKenzie Larson, Winterset, Iowa, Winterset High School, once again keyed the Orange & Black’s attack with an 11 assist, 12 dig, four service ace effort while fellow sophomore middle hitter Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.H., Nashua High School, added five kills, three total blocks and a service ace on the evening for the winners.  

The Cobleskill senior class was also active in the win as senior setter Maleigha Ellithorpe, Cazenovia, N.Y., Cazenovia College/Onondaga Community College, had 28 assists to go with eight digs and a pair of service aces with senior middle hitter Jillian Nitchman, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Ballston Spa High School, chipping in six kills, three total blocks and three digs to the victory totals.  

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Saturday October 30 when they travel to Delhi, N.Y. for the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Tournament’s Western Division Round hosted by SUNY Delhi. Cobleskill will meet the Wildcats of SUNY Polytechnic Institute in the tournament’s semifinals beginning at 5:00 p.m. 

Cobleskill at Bard

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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021 ROXBURY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR

 From Monday, November 8, 2021, through Wednesday, December 30, 2021,
from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays, the Roxbury Roxbury Library Association (RLA) will be
offering its Annual Holiday Bazaar shopping festivities at the
Roxbury Library. The RLA Annual Holiday Bazaar will offer holiday
shoppers
the opportunity to purchase quality RLA Thrift Shoppe merchandise, Irma
Mae Griffin's HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ROXBURY, and 2021 RLA quilt raffle
tickets
for the queen-sized "Joyful Scrappy Triangles" Quilt and for the
twin-sized
"Blue Hearts" Quilt," at $1.00 per ticket or at $5.00 for 6 tickets.

On Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, Santa will
visit
the Roxbury Library with holiday candy and gifts for the children of
Roxbury
and neighboring communities.

The RLA quilt raffle drawing for the 2021 RLA "Joyful Scrappy Triangles"
Quilt and for the 2021 RLA "Blue Hearts" Quilt, expertly handcrafted by
the
Roxbury Library Quilters, will take place on Saturday, December 4th,
at 1:30 p.m., at the Roxbury Library.

Located at 53742 State Highway 30, the Roxbury Library is directly
opposite the town's United Methodist Church on Main Street.

For further information about the 2021 RLA Annual Holiday Bazaar
shopping festivities, please contact Roxbury Library Director Dian
Seiler,
Roxbury Library Clerk Mary Jean Scudder, or Roxbury Library Clerk
Helen Faraci at (607)-326-7901.

The RLA Thrift Shoppe Volunteer Staff and the Roxbury Library Staff
welcome donations of new or gently used gift items to the 2021 RLA
Annual Holiday Bazaar.

The RLA requires that all Roxbury Library holiday visitors observe
state-recommended COVID-19 protocols, including the wearing of facial
masks and the practicing of social distancing.

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Nancy Marie Payne, Storyteller at Gilboa Museum & Juried History Center

Women who took up flying in the early 1900s had to handle prejudice as well as their aircraft. Public sentiment in the early days of flying held that when a man died in an aircraft accident it was a shame—but he knew what he was getting into and was a hero for breaking new ground. ....When a woman died in a plane accident, it was proof positive she shouldn't have been flying in the first place. Storyteller Nancy Marie Payne brings this exciting time alive through the voice of Pancho Barnes, a colorful and innovative female pilot of the 1920's. Nancy, as Pancho, relates the story of first flight from a woman's perspective. “Pancho” tells her own colorful story as well as the exploits of early balloonists and aviators, including Ruth Law, Harriet Quimby, Bessie Colman, Bobbi Trout, Amelia Earhart and others. Wednesday, October 20, at 6 p.m. A half-hour business meeting, refreshments, and Nancy will start before 7:00 Gilboa Museum, 122 Stryker Road, Gilboa, NY 12076 (Map). Gilboa Museum Gift Shop . . . . . . . . . . facebook.com/groups/gilboahistoricalsociety GilboaHistoricalSociety.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GilboaFossils.org Membership application or update form, and to email us. Your membership status: Enjoy GHS activites with or without being a member, but we'd love to have you join!....

October 20, GHS Membership Meeting 7:00–8:30: in the Museum, Nancy Payne, storyteller November 17, GHS Membership Meeting 7:00–8:30: in the Museum,Terry Bradshaw on Ned Buntline November 21, Holiday Bazaar 11:00–­4:00: museum, and possibly with the basement as well. December 15, Membership Meeting 7:00–8:30: Bottle Auction & holiday gift baskets

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Fighting Tiger Weekly Recap

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s cross country team posted their sixth invitational win of the season on Saturday afternoon recording a team total of 27 points to outdistance a 12-team field to capture the title at the 2021 Western New England Invitational hosted by the Golden Bears of Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. The Fighting Tigers, who are currently ranked eighth in the latest overall in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Niagara Region Poll, were led by freshman Eamonn Sullivan, Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Fordham Preparatory School, who defeated the field of 112 runners by completing the 8000-meter trail loop in a time of 26:03.8. 

The Fighting Tiger men’s soccer team broke a four-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon by posting a 2-0 home victory over the visiting Badgers of Northern Vermont University-Johnson in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action to improve to 3-10 overall on the season with a 2-5 record in conference play. Junior goalie John Gergen, Greenville, N.Y., Greenville High School, posted his first career shutout victory between the pipes for Cobleskill recording six saves on the afternoon.  

The women’s volleyball team dropped two-of-three NAC road contests during the week losing on Wednesday to SUNY Polytechnic in Marcy, N.Y. 3-1 by scores of: 18-25, 14-25, 25-14 and 23-25 prior to splitting a pair of NAC games over the weekend losing to Cazenovia College on Friday evening 3-2 by scores of: 25-20, 23-25, 25-17, 13-25 and 13-15 then sweeping SUNY Canton on Saturday afternoon 3-0 by scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-19 to move to 7-11 overall including a 3-3 record in conference action. Sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie Larson, Winterset, Iowa, Winterset High School, averaged 2.42 kills, 4.00 digs and 1.00 service aces in 12 sets played for the Fighting Tigers during the week.  

First-year runner Jenna Swyers, Peru, N.Y., Peru High School, was the Fighting Tiger women’s cross country tea’s top finisher at the 2021 Western New England Invitational hosted by Western New England University Saturday in Springfield, Mass. Swyers finished 31st overall in a field of 76 runners by covering the 6000-meter course in  a time of 28:02.8.  

 UPCOMING HOME EVENTS: 

Men’s Soccer vs. SUNY Delhi 10/19, SUNY Potsdam 10/26                                                                  

  Volleyball vs. Castleton University 10/20, MCLA 10/26 

 

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Middletown Fire District Meeting Notice

Middletown Fire District No. 1 will meet Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 6-7 pm to discuss the Budget.  Meeting will take place at the Fleischmanns, Fire Hall at 1298 Main Street, Fleischmanns, NY.

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SUNY COBLESKILL’S EAMONN SULLIVAN NAMED NAC CROSS COUNTRY MEN’S RUNNER-OF-THE-WEEK & ROOKIE-OF-THE-WEEK

The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced today that SUNY Cobleskill first-year runner Eamonn Sullivan, Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Fordham Preparatory School, has been named both the league's NAC Men's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week and NAC Men's Cross Country Rookie-of-the-Week for the week ending on October 10, 2021. This marks the third time this season that Sullivan has swept the league’s Men's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week and Rookie-of-the-Week awards while the fifth time this season that he has been named conference’s Men's Cross Country Rookie-of-the-Week this season. 

The Wappingers Falls, N.Y. native defeated a field of 74 runners at the 13^th annual Mount Saint Mary’s College Knights Invitational on Saturday afternoon hosted by the Knights at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, N.Y. by completing the soggy 8000-meter loop in a time of 26:41.7. The victory was the Wappinger Falls native’s fourth invitational win of the campaign to date and propelled the Fighting Tigers to the team title over a 15-team field at the event.  

Cobleskill will next be in action on Saturday October 16 when they travel to Springfield, Mass.. for the Western New England Invitational hosted by the Golden Bears at their campus cross country course beginning at 10:30 a.m.   

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FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER CLOSES MAINE ROADTRIP WITH 3-0 LOSS AT MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY IN NAC ACTION

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team closed out their North Atlantic Conference (NAC) road trip to Maine on Sunday afternoon by losing a 3-0 decision to the host Mariners of the Maine Maritime Academy in conference action. With the loss the Fighting Tigers are now 2-10 overall on the season including a 1-5 mark in NAC play while the Mariners move to 6-5-1 overall on the campaign with a 5-1-1 record in conference play.  

Once again, the Fighting Tigers struggled offensively to find the back of their opponent’s net as the Mariners capitalized on their 17-9 advantage in shots taken and their 9-3 advantage in corner kicks to break open a contest that was 1-0 in their favor at the half.  

Cobleskill will next be in action on Saturday October 16 when they face the Badgers of Northern Vermont University Johnson for a NAC match-up at the Fighting Tigers Soccer/Lax Complex with kick-off scheduled for 1:00 p.m.  

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SUNY COBLESKILL’S JENNA SWYERS NAMED NAC CROSS COUNTRY MEN’S RUNNER-OF-THE-WEEK & ROOKIE-OF-THE-WEEK

The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced today that SUNY Cobleskill first-year runner Jenna Swyers, Peru, N.Y., Peru High School, has been named both the league's NAC Women's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week and NAC Women's Cross Country Rookie-of-the-Week for the week ending on October 10, 2021. This marks the first time this in program history that a Fighting Tiger women’s runner has swept the league’s Women's Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week and Rookie-of-the-Week awards during the same week. 

The Peru, N.Y. native placed 15^th overall in a field of 67 runners at the 13^th annual Mount Saint Mary’s College Knights Invitational on Saturday afternoon hosted by the Knights at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, N.Y. by completing the soggy 6000-meter loop in a time of 29:11.5.  

Cobleskill will next be in action on Saturday October 16 when they travel to Springfield, Mass.. for the Western New England Invitational hosted by the Golden Bears at their campus cross country course beginning at 10:30 a.m.   

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CSO announces audience policy, free tickets, pre-show entertainment for 10/23 concert

Oneonta’s Catskill Symphony Orchestra first concert of the 2021-2022 Season, Archissimo, is Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center

ONEONTA, NY, Oct. 14, 2021—The Catskill Symphony Orchestra (CSO) announces its audience policy, free student and family tickets, and pre-show entertainment for the Archissimo concert on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta. 

Archissimo is the first concert of the CSO’s 2021-2022 season and the first in-person concert it has presented since November 2019. Archissimo will feature evergreens of string orchestra repertoire, including the witty Serenata Notturna by Mozart, and virtuosic pieces composed by Edvard Grieg and Béla Bartók. It is the first concert led by the CSO’s new music director Maciej Zoltowski, who joined the organization in January 2020, and the first of two fall concerts at Foothills PAC. The second is Nov. 20. 

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m. with a presentation by Zoltowski. Preshow offerings include live music by Hartwick College student musicians, a full cash bar, and desserts and snacks by King’s Kakery and 221 Bakery for sale.

All audience members are required to wear masks in accordance with CDC public health guidelines. As an added precaution, attendance at the concert is limited to 50 percent capacity of the Foothills PAC theater to allow for social distancing between parties. 

Thanks to an anonymous donor, the CSO is offering free tickets to all students in elementary school through college, as well as the accompanying adults of minors. To reserve free tickets, email Executive Director Cassandra Miller at contact@catskillsymphony.org with the names of students and adults, school district, and year. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Children age 2 and older are welcome to attend with a properly fitted mask. 

General admission tickets for regular season concerts are $32 in advance or $35 the day of performances. Season Passes are available for $120 through Oct. 23, and include tickets for the three regular season concerts as well as the Cabaret fundraiser. For more information and tickets, visit www.catskillsymphony.org.

About the Catskill Symphony Orchestra

The Catskill Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded in 1953 for the purpose of providing access to live symphonic music to area residents, who otherwise would have to travel great distances in order to enjoy such performances. In 1974, the committee filed for articles of incorporation, applied for tax-exempt status, and oversaw the transition from a volunteer community orchestra to a professional organization that has grown steadily in the quality of its musicians and programming. Maestro Charles Schneider served as the orchestra's conductor from 1973 until 2017. After an international search, Maciej Zoltowski became the new conductor, and 2021-2022 will be his first season with the orchestra. The CSO is an unparalleled resource to entertain, educate, and inspire  audiences of all ages in upstate New York—by presenting an ensemble of the highest artistic quality performing the full range of symphonic literature. The CSO typically holds five concerts per season to an audience of over 3,500 patrons offering a diverse repertoire.  

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Gil C. Quiniones Resigns as President and CEO of the New York Power Authority

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer Gil C. Quiniones has resigned after 10 years in the role to accept a position as chief executive officer at Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd).

 

Justin E. Driscoll, NYPA executive vice president and general counsel, will become the interim president and chief executive officer. Quiniones will remain at NYPA until Nov. 5 and will work closely with Driscoll to support the transition.

 

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Under Gil’s leadership, NYPA has advanced the State’s transition to a clean energy economy and helped deliver a stronger and more sustainable future for New Yorkers. It is with sadness that I accept his resignation, but I understand his desire to pursue an opportunity in the private sector and thank him for his decade of service to New Yorkers. He leaves the Power Authority and the State in a strong position to create a clean energy infrastructure that is reliable, resilient, and cost-effective for decades to come, and New Yorkers, including myself, are grateful for his contributions to our state.”

 

John R. Koelmel, chair of NYPA’s Board of Trustees, said: “We are very grateful to Gil for his visionary leadership and unwavering stewardship of NYPA, and more recently, Canals. He leaves NYPA a much stronger, more resilient organization. We will certainly miss his leadership and friendship. NYPA and Canals are, in fact, in an exciting position. The trustees and I have the utmost faith and confidence in Justin and his leadership. He has been an influential member of NYPA’s executive team and an important adviser to all of us. His wisdom and experience have been essential in developing NYPA’s VISION2030 strategy. With Justin as the interim president and CEO, NYPA will continue to lead our state toward a carbon-free, economically vibrant future.”

 

Quiniones’ 10-year tenure makes him the longest-serving president and CEO in the history of NYPA, the nation’s largest state public power organization. Overall, he has been at the Power Authority for 14 years, serving previously as executive vice president, energy marketing and corporate affairs and as chief operating officer.

  

Under Quiniones’ leadership, NYPA has carried out or planned a number of major initiatives to upgrade and modernize its power generation and transmission assets and has played a central role in New York State’s nation-leading efforts to fight climate change. The largest of those undertakings are Next Generation Niagara, a 15-year, $1.1 billion modernization of the Authority’s Niagara hydroelectric project that is well underway, and the $11 billion Clean Path NY, an unprecedented transmission and generation project that was recently selected by New York State in a Request for Proposals to deliver clean energy from upstate to New York City.   

 

Quiniones prioritized operational and financial excellence, innovation, resilience, strategic vision and social and environmental justice. Most recently, he ushered in NYPA’s 10-year strategic plan, Vision2030—created to advance the Authority’s mission to lead the transition to a carbon-free, economically vibrant New York through customer partnerships, innovative energy solutions and the responsible supply of affordable, clean and reliable electricity.

 

During his tenure, NYPA has aggressively promoted the growth of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and electric transportation, and much more, including efforts to soon become one of the nation’s first “end-to-end” digital utilities. In 2017, he led NYPA in integrating the New York State Canal Corporation into its operations and has launched the Reimagine the Canals program, an effort focused on realizing the canals’ potential for tourism, recreation, and environmental protection.

 

VISION2030 points the way to a clean energy future for New York, and with a reimagined canal system, ensures that NYPA continues to build upon its rich history and create a bright, reliable, resilient and cost-effective energy future for all New Yorkers.

 

“After considerable thought, I have decided that taking on this new challenge is the right move for me and my family,” Quiniones said. “While I look forward to this opportunity with excitement and anticipation, these feelings are mixed with the sadness of knowing I will miss amazing colleagues and the great sense of pride I have in all that we have accomplished together.”

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Audubon Celebrates 54 Years with Online Celebration and Fabulous Keynote Presenter

Mark Your Calendars for the 54th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, taking place on Friday, October 15, 2021 - online - starting at 6:30 p.m.

After reviewing the results of an online survey conducted over the summer, and after lengthy discussion, the DOAS Board of Directors, out of an abundance of caution, concluded that it would be best to forgo the in-person dinner. Like last year, the celebration will take place completely online. The familiar "Bucket" Raffle is currently underway and has gone virtual. It features many fine items generously donated by local artisans and patrons. Photos of all raffle items and information for how to obtain raffle tickets are available at https://doas.us/2021-raffle-items/. For patrons who do not use the internet, DOAS will mail you the raffle information. Contact us by phone at 607-397-3815 or by mail at PO Box 544, Oneonta, 13820. Our featured presenter will be naturalist and author Scott Weidensaul, who provided a captivating program for us in April on the wonders of migration. His Zoom presentation for the Charter Celebration will focus on the smallest owl found in the east, the Northern Saw-whet Owl, a species he has been researching for over a quarter of a century. Details about Scott’s presentation are available at https://doas.us/twenty-five-years-of-late-nights-and-wee-owls/ REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: A donation of $25 is suggested (but not required) in lieu of dinner fees. You must register in advance for the celebration/webinar by October 15th. After registering, a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar will be sent along with a reminder email the day before the event.  Register at https://doas.us/2021-charter-celebration/.

Agenda 6:30pm  Charter Anniversary Celebration, Welcome and DOAS Annual Report, Social Time and  Final Raffle Sales (ticket sales will end at 7:30pm) 7:30pm  KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: The Northern Saw-whet Owl with Scott Weidensaul 8:30pm  Raffle Drawing Winners Announced, Event Closing

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Bassett Healthcare Network’s Efforts to Combat Clinician Burnout Recognized by The American Medical Association

Cooperstown, N.Y. – The American Medical Association (AMA) recognized Bassett Healthcare Network last week as a recipient of the 2021 Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program. The AMA awards this distinction to health systems that actively demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of health care team members by combating work-related stress and burnout. Dr. Caroline Gomez-Di Cesare, MD, PhD, Network Director of Well-Being, accepted the recognition on behalf of Bassett Healthcare Network.

 

“The chronic crises throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll everyone, with particularly high stressors on all of us in health care,” says Dr. Gomez-Di Cesare. “It is especially meaningful to receive this recognition of Bassett’s leadership at a time when working toward well-being in the healthcare workplace is even more important than ever before.”

 

“Our employees are the single most important asset we have at Bassett Healthcare Network,” says Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, President and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network. “We strive to empower our people with a support system that allows them to thrive and give their best to our patients. An investment in our caregivers is an investment our patients and community.”

 

One such investment—and an important consideration in the AMA’s evaluation—has been the Clinician Peer Support Program of Central New York (CPSP-CNY). Launched in May, 2020 by Bassett with four other regional health institutions and now the American Nurses Association (ANA-NY), the CPSP-CNY offers emotional and empathetic support to clinicians under stress. The program’s referral system allows clinicians to confidentially reach out individually or on behalf of colleagues who might themselves be reluctant to seek help.  The multi-institutional framework matches clinicians with peer supporters from outside of the home organization, allowing for more anonymity when receiving support.  Peer support helps decrease suicide rates in other high stress professions such as police and military.

 

“Burnout is stigmatized as a personal weakness, making it hard for clinicians to speak up for themselves,” explains Dr. Gomez-Di Cesare. “Burnout is an occupational hazard in the high-stakes, high-standards medical profession, and burnout affects the quality of patient care.  Most of the factors contributing to burnout are organizational and systemic. Our goal is to minimize the risk of burnout just as we minimize the dangers of other occupational hazards.”

 

 

The AMA has granted Bassett a bronze recognition status for two years.  In its pursuit of the best possible patient care, Bassett plans to continue to expand efforts to care for caregivers. Dr. Gomez-Di Cesare looks forward to Bassett’s leadership being recognized at even higher levels in future assessments. 

 

“The 44 health systems recognized this year by the AMA are creating momentum in the health care community,” says Christine Sinsky, MD, AMA Vice President of Professional Satisfaction. “It’s a united commitment to wide-spanning change in the culture of medicine that emphasizes professional well-being in health care.”

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