Board of Elections releases names on ballots
The Madison County Board of Elections has released the list of the names of the candidates appearing on the ballot for the General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 from 6am to 9pm in the County of Madison:
Justice of the Supreme Court, 6th Judicial; Pete Charnetsky, Claudette Y Newman, Chris Baker, Oliver N Blaise III, Mark Masler.
Madison County Judge- County Surrogate’s and Family Court; Michael St Leger.
City of Oneida- Mayor; Jim Chamberlain, Helen B Acker, City Chamberlain; Nancy Andrews, City Court Judge; Melissa Stearns, Michael Misiaszek, Supervisor Wards 1,2,3; Margaret Milman-Barris, Mary B Cavanagh, Matthew A Roberts, Supervisor Wards 4,5,6; Joseph A Magliocca, A Max Smith, Joseph P Ostrander, Thomas E Boylan, Jr, City Council Ward 1; Alan S Cohen, Carrie L Earl, City Council Ward 2; Michael F Bowe, David M Cimpi, City Council Ward 3; James E Coulthart, Lonnie P Stedman, William L Butler, City Council Ward 4; Gary D Reisman, City Council Ward 5; Randy Jones, Brandee Marie Dubois, City Council Ward 6;Thomas L Simchik.
Town of Brookfield- Supervisor; Loren C Corbin, Charles K Blood, Highway Superintendent; Paul T Owens, Town Council; Joseph H Walker, Kathileen A Peerman, Clinton A Abrams.
Town of Cazenovia- Supervisor; Bill Zupan, Town Council; Jimmy Golub, Timothy L Hunt, Kyle M Reger.
Town of DeRuyter- Supervisor; Daniel S Degear, Town Clerk; Rebecca L Marshall, Highway Superintendent; Walter C Cook, Town Justice; Kenneth W Coon, Town Council; Edwin B Coon, Cedric M Barnes, Jr.
Town of Eaton- Supervisor; Michael Johnston, Cliff Moses, Town Council; Ross Whitford, Joseph Wicks.
Town of Fenner- Supervisor; David Jones, Town Clerk; Lisa Dolan, Highway Superintendent; Dan Smith, Town Council; William W Wester, Adam Pushlar.
Town of Georgetown- Supervisor; Paul Walrod, Resurreccion Dimaculangan, Town Clerk/Collector; Sally Brush, Highway Superintendent; Terry Rounds, Town Council; David P Canfield, Susan L Duell.
Town of Hamilton- Supervisor; Eve Ann Shwartz, Town Council; Darrell J Griff, Shari L Taylor, Proposition One.
Town of Lebanon- Supervisor; James S Goldstein, Town Clerk/Collector; Joann L Collins, Highway Superintendent; Alex P Hodge, Town Council; Marie Morgan, Chadwick Nower.
Town of Lenox- Town Justice; Nick Ghezzi, Grace E Rapasadi, Peter M Finocciaro, Town Council; Scott Blanchard, Alan Williamson, Jr, Thomas E Bush, Richard J Wimmer.
Town of Lincoln- Supervisor; Yvonne M Nirelli, Town Justice; Joseph C Capparelli, Jr, Town Council; Douglas R Holdridge, Jayne B Black, Doug Fusillo.
Town of Madison- Town Justice; Michael P Hynes, Town Council; Gregory M Reuter, Bradley A Dixon, Sr.
Town of Nelson- Supervisor; Roger D Bradstreet, James J Cunningham, Town Clerk; Deborah J Costello, Highway Superintendent; Joseph E Deyo Jr, Town Council; Tammy Hayes, Nancy Demyttenaere, John E Laubscher, John LaGorga.
Town of Smithfield- Supervisor; Carol Lasicki, Thomas J Stokes, Town Clerk; Janice C Sebring, Highway Superintendent; Daniel J Davis, Town Council; Jame C Corpin, Nell W Ziegler, Karen Pitts.
Town of Stockbridge- Supervisor; Alexander R Stepanski, Town Clerk/Collector; Cami L Kiehn, Highway Superintendent; Peter R Kiehn Sr, Town Council;Timothy J Meeker, Roland C Shea, Sr.
Town of Sullivan- Supervisor; Doug Weaver, Joh M Becker, Jeff Taylor, Town Clerk; Amy Bettinger-Wells, Highway Superintendent; Andrew J Busa, Town Council; Derrick W Pratt, John E Brzuszkiewicz, Jeffrey B Martin, Dave Montroy.
Reminder: In Madison County, Early Voting will be available at the Madison County Board of Elections Office, 138 North Court Street, Wampsville NY 13163, first floor of building #4, next to the DMV office. Voters will vote on the same voting system used on Election Day.
Hours for Early Voting will be:
- Saturday October 26 9am to 2pm
- Sunday October 27 9am to 2pm
- Monday October 28 9am to 5pm
- Tuesday October 29 9am to 8pm
- Wednesday October 30 9am to 8pm
- Thursday October 31 9am to 5pm
- Friday November 1 9am to 5pm
- Saturday November 2 9am to 2pm
- Sunday November 3 9am to 2pm
Additional information can be obtained by going to www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/boe or by calling the Madison County Board of Elections at 315-366-2231.
Protect your child from lead poisoning
If you have an infant, toddler, preschooler, or young child in your life, it’s important to know how to protect that child from lead poisoning. Lead is a toxin found in our environment, and it does not belong in our blood. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 20-26, is a time to highlight what happens when a child is lead poisoned and how to prevent it.
First, make sure your child gets tested for lead at age one and two years old. A blood test is the only way to tell if your child has lead poisoning. This blood test must be ordered by your child’s doctor or healthcare provider. If your doctor does not have the ability to collect the blood at their office, then you will need to get the blood taken at a lab. WIC does not do lead testing.
The local Health Department is responsible for tracking children’s lead test. If the test has not been done shortly after both the child’s one and two-year birthday, the Madison County Health Department will send a postcard to the parent as a reminder that it is needed and how important this lead test is. You can contact the Health Department directly if you have questions about lead testing or lead poisoning prevention.
If a child’s blood lead level is elevated (at 5 mcg/dL or higher), our Lead Program nurse will follow up with the parents to talk about how to bring the child’s lead level down. This includes offering a home visit to help with identifying sources of lead and provide recommendations for reducing the child’s exposure. We also follow up to make sure that the child is re-tested at the right time.
Even if your child’s lead test at one year old is under 5 mcg/dL, your child still needs to be tested at age two. At two years old, your child is moving around more on their own and also more likely to put their hands, toys, and other objects in their mouth, all of which could contain lead. Also, changes to where your child spends their time, such as moving to a new house or visiting family members’ houses, or playing outside in the dirt, could indicate a different, possibly higher and more dangerous level.
The lead blood test is only a snapshot in time, and it is very important for doctors to capture that snapshot at age one and two. Lead is a poison. Only a tiny amount of lead is needed to harm a young, growing child. While anyone can become lead poisoned, children are especially at risk because their bodies absorb lead much more easily than adults.
Why should we be worried about lead poisoning? Too much lead in the body can cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. This can lead to problems with learning and paying attention, slow a child’s growth and development, cause hearing and speech problems, and lead to behavior problems, such as aggressive behavior. Even low blood lead levels can affect children’s behaviors, including issues with anxiety, emotion, and delayed social skills. If we find that a child has too much lead in their blood, then we will work quickly to try to bring that level down to avoid these problems that have the potential to impact the child’s future.
Second, know where lead can be found indoors and out and make sure children are not getting lead on their hands, in their mouths, or breathing it in. The most common cause of lead poisoning is lead-based paint dust from older window frames, doors and trim, or walls. Lead paint was used in homes built before 1978 before we knew just how dangerous it was. A law was then passed to remove lead from household paint. Yet it still exists in older homes. When a home is repaired or renovated, lead paint can peel, chip, or flake from sanding and scraping. Opening and closing an old window can also create dust that you can’t even see, which can be breathed in, causing lead poisoning. Lead dust can also settle on the child’s toys or get on his hands, which he may put in his mouth.
And because most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick, it is important to screen children who are six months to six years old for lead. Screening should be done at all check-ups, or at least annually. The screening will let you and your doctor know if your child needs to be tested for lead at times other than the necessary one and two years old. Talk to your doctor about lead screening and testing. Testing for lead helps ensure your child’s health now and in the future.
For more information on protecting children from lead poisoning, visit www.healthymadisoncounty.org.
County announces broadband campaign
The quality of the lives of the citizens and businesses within Madison County are always an important concern for the Madison County Board of Supervisors. Today, the Board of Supervisors has announced the launch of a joint Broadband Availability & Adoption Campaign to determine needs and opportunities for broadband Internet growth in the region. The campaign, which consists of a short online survey and speed test, will target both residential and commercial addresses.
“We have long known that our County lags behind the more urban counties in the State when it comes to access to affordable, reliable broadband,” stated Madison County Chairman John M. Becker. “Many people both at their homes and at their businesses have poor to no access, and those that do have access report that broadband speeds are a real problem. This online survey will help us map and determine access levels and speeds throughout Madison County.”
“With more day-to-day functions moving online, whether it’s for business, education, or personal use, we can’t afford to let our County fall behind,” said Eve Ann Shwartz, Hamilton Town Supervisor and Chairwoman of the Public Utility Service Committee. “High-speed broadband has become nearly as essential as water and electricity for a good quality of life. We’re using the BAAT Campaign to collect information on services residents currently have, currently need, and where service is lacking. We can then use this data to come up with a plan to move forward and improve our broadband county-wide.”
The broadband survey is tailored to ask questions, based on response, pertinent to homes and businesses both with and without access. Respondents will need to enter an address and indicate whether it is for a home or business and will proceed to a survey designed to collect information on demand for services unique to their location. Residents who also have an at home business should take the business survey as well as the home survey.
“We know a lot of people are very unhappy with their service and the lack of options in the County,” continued Becker. “With the results from this survey the Madison County Board of Supervisors will have the tools they need to combat the broadband shortage in our community. The data will be used to draw service providers into the area and apply for grants to assist in expanding service.”
Residents without Internet access at home can and are encouraged to take the survey. They can either go to their local library, enter in their home address, skip the speed test completely and answer the questions. The survey is also accessible via any mobile device.
Paper copies of the survey will be available at local libraries and Town offices. The County is also working with local School Districts to send surveys home with students for families to fill out and return. The survey can be accessed at www.madisonbroadband.com, and the County will be making hard copies available at libraries, town offices and schools.
Madison County is hoping to reach as many residents as possible before the campaign ends on December 31st. More information can be found by visiting www.madisoncounty.ny.gov.
State law requires all children under 2 to ride facing rear
As of November 1, 2019, parents and anyone who transports infants and toddlers needs to know that New York State law requires all children under the age of 2 to ride in a rear-facing car seat. More states are passing this law because riding rear-facing is safest for children under age 2, and is a recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Riding rear-facing better protects the child’s neck and spine, two of the most vulnerable parts of the body. In the event of a crash, we want to lessen the risk of serious injury to the neck and back,” explains Chrystal Johnson, Madison County Health Department’s Public Health Educator and Child Passenger Safety Technician.
In fact, it is recommended that infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing seat until they reach the weight or height limit of the seat. There are 3 types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only carriers, convertible infant/toddler seats, and all-in-one combination seats. Most children will outgrow a rear-facing infant carrier before reaching their 2nd birthday. When the child outgrows an infant carrier, it is recommended that a larger, rear-facing convertible infant/toddler or an all-in-one car seat with higher rear-facing height and weight limits be used. These seats should be installed in the rear-facing position until the child reaches the rear-facing weight or height limit set by the car seat manufacturer.
Madison County’s Car Seat Program provides child safety seats by appointment to parents and legal guardians who are Madison County residents, income-eligible, and who do not have a safe or appropriate seat for their child. For more information or to find out if you are eligible, call the Madison County Health Department in Wampsville at 315-366-2361. In Southern Madison County, you may call Community Action Partnership in Morrisville at 315-684-3144 Ext. 20.
Breastfeeding Connections kicks off in Hamilton
The Madison County Healthy Start Partnership is pleased to announce that Breastfeeding Connections, a baby weigh station, will be offered at the Hamilton Public Library on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, beginning in November. The new location in Hamilton will compliment Breastfeeding Connections at Oneida Healthcare in Oneida and St. Joseph’s Physicians Primary Care in Cazenovia. It will give families in the greater Hamilton area better access to and a shorter distance to travel for this type of service.
The Healthy Start Partnership is a network of health and human service providers who actively work to promote breastfeeding. In addition to sponsoring all of the Breastfeeding Connections baby weigh stations, the partnership sponsors a World Breastfeeding Week celebration each August, and has worked with 5 OB and family healthcare provider offices to become Breastfeeding Friendly Practices.
Join the Healthy Start Partnership for a special kick-off event on Friday, November 8th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Community Room of the Hamilton Public Library. New and expectant parents can enjoy a comfortable space to get professional breastfeeding support and feeding advice, check baby’s weight, connect to community resources, and enjoy a light lunch. The idea is for moms to simply drop in to talk with other moms or get their questions answered by Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) from Community Action Partnership’s Healthy Families and a WIC peer counselor. Moms should feel free to bring their support person, so they can experience the benefits too. Everyone is welcome to attend the kick-off event to see what is offered.
Dr. Jennifer Meyers of Community Memorial Hospital’s Family Health Center in Hamilton, will make a special presentation just after 12:30 pm. The event will end with a door prize drawing at 1:00 pm.
“The benefits of breastfeeding are priceless. The support from family, friends, co-workers, healthcare providers, and the community makes all the difference in a mother’s decision to start and continue to breastfeed,” said Molly Limbert, Public Health Nurse and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant with Madison County Health Department.
For more information on the kick-off event or the Hamilton Breastfeeding Connections baby weigh station, call or text Olivia with Community Action Partnership’s Healthy Families Program at 315-877-1155. Like Community Action Partnership for Madison County on Facebook for updates.
**Reminder**
For Immediate Release
November 1, 2019
Contact: Sgt. Matt White 315-366-2318
County participating in statewide STOP-DWI Halloween crackdown enforcement effort through Nov. 3
Madison County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matthew White announced today that Madison County police agencies are continuing to participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.
Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. When it comes to drunk driving Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest. While we spend time trick or treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on 10/31/19 and will end on 11/03/19. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.
Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.
The STOP-DWI Halloween Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national Holiday Season in December.
While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. Have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend!
County deputies conduct sobriety checkpoint
On November 1, 2019, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Route 31 in the Town of Sullivan.
Deputies will stop vehicles at the checkpoint and look for any signs that the driver of the vehicle is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the deputy observes any signs of impairment, the deputy will conduct field sobriety tests that may result in the arrest of the driver.
Checkpoints are conducted in an effort to deter people from getting behind the wheel when they are impaired by alcohol or drugs. The sheriff’s office conducts periodic checkpoints throughout the year in its efforts to combat impaired driving.