Pictured from left are, Alex Catera, Michael Betro, Maysara Elazzazi, Zachary Goldsmith and Ryan Payne.

(New Hartford, NY Jan. 30, 2012) The New Hartford RoboSpartans robotics team returned home late last night from the Hudson Valley with the 2012 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Connect Award Trophy.  The Connect Award celebrates the team most connected to the local and engineering community.

The team was recognized for helping the community understand FIRST and for having a clear plan for outreach and fundraising.   The trophy is one of 8 awards at FTC championship events.  This is the team’s second season as the Hudson Valley’s Connect Award winner.

In addition, this year’s team was a finalist and runner-up for both the FTC Promote Award and the Inspire Award, the top Award in FIRST Tech Challenge.  The RoboSpartans travelled to Pace University’s Westchester Campus Sunday, for the Hudson Valley FTC Championship, competing with 35 teams from New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Earlier this season, the team received the Young Adult Mentor Award at the FIRST LEGO League FLL@SUNYIT Championship Tournament, where they demonstrated their FIRST Tech Challenge robots for younger competing teams.  The five member team has logged over 1000 hours of community outreach time in which they mentored teams, assisted with summer camps, volunteered for robotics events, and hosted robotics demonstrations.

The RoboSpartans are strong supporters of CNY FIRST, our regions’ FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Operational Partner and host to our area’s Championship FLL robotics event.  The team’s main focus is on growing robotics through FIRST, but they also find time to give back to charitable organizations such as the American Heart Association.  They’ll be walking in America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk on March 3, 2012.

The RoboSpartans started their second season in May with a summer robotics build for the MoonBots Google Lunar X PRIZE Challenge.  For the second time, they were one of 20 teams in the world to reach Phase II of the competition.  Since then, they’ve spent a minimum of two meetings per week perfecting a robot to run in a 12 foot by 12 foot obstacle course of bowling balls, crates and racquetballs as part of the “Bowled Over!” challenge. Their robot consists of both metal and LEGO parts and runs using an NXT LEGO MINDSTORMS brick and RobotC programming.

The RoboSpartans are gearing up for their next tournament, February 11, 2011, the Western Pennsylvania FTC Qualifier at Robert Morris University, outside of Pittsburgh, Pa.

The teams’ ultimate goal is to get more FTC robotics teams in the Mohawk Valley and eventually host local competitions.  The RoboSpartans continue to put on live demonstrations including a scheduled appearance at the Mohawk Valley Tech Ed and Pre-Engineering Showcase on March 8, 2011 at SUNYIT.  They’ll also host a scrimmage at SUNYIT as a part of the 4th Annual CNY FIRST Robot Riot set for May 19, 2012.

The New Hartford RoboSpartans are Michael Betro from New Hartford Senior High, Maysara Elazzazi, Alex Catera and Ryan Payne from Perry Junior High and Zachary Goldsmith of Frankfort-Schuyler High School.  The team is coached by Bob and Lisa Payne of New Hartford.  The main sponsor of the New Hartford RoboSpartans is the Carbone Auto Group.  For more information on the team, become a fan of their Facebook page or contact the coaches at nh.robospartans@gmail.com.

(Jan. 25, 2012) Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford) presented an Assembly Resolution, with Senator Griffo (seen above), on behalf of the Honorable Stanley C. Wolanin, who served as Town of Whitestown justice for 52 years. Justice Wolanin was the longest serving justice in New York State. His devoted service to the community is matched by a long history of being a dedicated neighbor.

“The honorable Justice Wolanin is an exemplary member of our community. His dedication to country, home, neighbors and profession is a standard to which we should all commit.  His service to the Whitestown community will never be forgotten. We will miss him but we are comforted to know that this wonderful man still calls our Central New York community home,” said Assemblywoman Tenney

Wolanin’s service to the community began at the young age of 17 when he served our nation as a United States NAVY gunners mate on the minesweeper USS Knave. As a veteran, Wolanin has been a member of a local VFW, the Whitestown American Legion, the elected commander of PLAV Bator post (Polish Legion of American Veterans), and served as committee chairman to build the gazebo at Veterans Park.

Wolanin is also a lifetime member of the New York Mills and Yorkville fire departments.

A Column from Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford)

(Jan. 20. 2012) In his State of the State address, Governor Cuomo appointed himself as the lobbyist for New York’s schoolchildren. I applaud his commitment to finally putting children above the powerful education lobby, but I also remain committed to the parents and grandparents of Central New York – the taxpayers who pay the bills.

Where is their lobbyist? I support defending these taxpayers just as zealously as our schoolchildren. Governor Cuomo can support both groups by reforming the school-aid formula to better meet the needs of low-wealth rural school districts such as those in Oneida and Oswego counties. And while he proposed to increase state school funding by $805 million, or 4.1 percent overall, the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal fails to prioritize funding based on our local communities’ abilities and needs.

Because of the failure of this Executive Budget to reform the education funding formula, it keeps in place the wide funding and quality divide between Central New York and downstate. In fact, despite Governor Cuomo’s proposed 4.1 percent school aid increase, schools in our region will see much less than that. For example, Adirondack Central School District is slated to receive an increase of just 1.92 percent, 1.51 percent for APW, 2.04 percent for Westmoreland, and 2.35 percent for Sauquoit Valley.

Comparatively, school districts in wealthy downstate communities, such as North Salem in Westchester County, are slated to receive an increase of 11.6 percent. If we are increasing spending, it should be 4.1 percent across the board. Central New York deserves a fair share, especially since it was forced to shoulder the burdensome education cuts from last year – cuts that I voted against.

In fact, the schools of Central New York are already disproportionately suffering compared to downstate districts thanks to last year’s cuts and the historical imbalance in the state’s education funding formula. Last year, our local school districts saw drastic school-aid cuts per pupil: Remsen at $2,224; Westmoreland at $1,850; and Sauquoit Valley at $1,781. In comparison, wealthy counties, such as Westchester and Nassau, received per pupil cuts of $401 in Elmsford; $411 in Greenport; and $227 for Bronxville (nearly a tenth of Remsen’s reduction).

Schools in Oneida and Oswego counties deserve – and need – more from Albany and that’s why I am aggressively trying to reform the school funding formula to account for our local communities’ abilities and needs. A formula should not change due to politics; rather, an equitable formula, one that benefits schoolchildren and taxpayers across our state, should be set and allowed to run. I voted against last year’s education budget, and I am prepared to vote against this year’s budget as well, unless these important reforms are made. A lobbyist for the Empire State’s students is overdue, but I want to be the lobbyist for their parents and grandparents as well.

Furthermore, I invite residents, local officials, teachers, parents and school administrators to join me in this fight. Please contact my office at the Westmoreland School to learn how you can become part of my Education Funding Reform Panel in order to share your thoughts on how we can reform our education funding to better all students and local taxpayers.

Please email me at tenneyc@assembly.state.ny.us or call my office at 315-853-2383 to learn more.

(Herkimer, NY – Jan. 16, 2012) The following subject was arrested on Saturday evening Jan. 14 near Beaver River Station in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County:

Jeffrey J. Jordan, 41, 109 George Road, Lowville, NY

At approximately 7 p.m. a female victim called the Herkimer County 911 Center reporting that she was at a cabin in northern Herkimer County and had been assaulted by a man at that location.

New York State Forest Rangers and officers from the Town of Webb Police Department responded to the cabin via snowmobile and found the 42-year-old female victim who had apparently been beaten by the cabin owner, Jeffrey Jordan.

The case was subsequently turned over to the New York State Police BCI in Herkimer for investigation.

The victim was transported to St Elizabeth’s Hospital in Utica where she was treated for a broken left orbital bone as well as other minor bruises and lacerations.

Jordan was taken into custody at the scene and transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Hartford where he was treated for minor injuries and released to State Police custody.

Jordan was charged with one count of second-degree Assault, a class D felony, and arraigned in the Town of Little Falls Court. He was remanded to the Herkimer County jail on $35,000 cash / $70,000 bail bond.  The investigation is continuing.

(Sherrill, NY – Jan. 14, 2012) Oneida based state police investigated a one car personal injury motor vehicle accident Tuesday evening, Jan. 10 that sent three people to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

At approximately 7:28 p.m., a 2004 Dodge operated by Trevor J. Pratt, 21, of Miller Street in Utica was travelling westbound on Highbridge Road in the Town of Vernon at an unsafe speed when the vehicle slid counter-clockwise while rounding a left hand curve and exited the south side of the roadway, striking a tree.

Pratt and his 18-year-old passengers, Alyssa N. Carone of Huntington Place, New Hartford and Gabrielle M. Koviacs of West Main Street, Westmoreland, were extricated from the vehicle by firefighters from the Sherrill Fire Department and transported to St. Elizabeth’s Trauma Center in Utica by Vineall Ambulance.

The investigation by Trooper Miles Robertson revealed the Pratt vehicle had inadequate tread on all four tires and a witness to the accident stated the vehicle appeared to be travelling well above the posted 35 mile per hour speed limit prior to the crash.

Pratt was issued traffic tickets for Unsafe Speed, Inadequate Tires and Failure to Keep Right and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Vernon Court.

(Jan. 2012)

Anthony J. Brindisi (Assembly District 116)

Business could help showcase SUNYIT’s Quad-C and the Marcy NanoCenter on an international stage in an effort to secure commitments from more companies and create much needed good-paying jobs in the Mohawk Valley. I also applaud the Governor’s commitment to infrastructure improvement and putting children first when it comes to education and I look forward to working with him, my colleagues in the legislature, and local officials to move New York and the Mohawk Valley forward.”

Claudia Tenney (Assembly District 115)

My colleagues and I have another busy legislative session ahead of us.  Governor Cuomo made it clear today that he has no serious plans to address Medicaid and Mandate Relief, or school aid reform, which are top priorities.

Our local governments, school districts, and municipalities are under greater and greater pressure every year due to mandates handed down to them by the state.  We cannot tolerate New York State’s excessive spending, particularly on programs such as Medicaid, which are riddled with fraud and loopholes. Medicaid is the number one budgetary item in New York and without comprehensive Medicaid mandate relief, the cost of living in the 115th Assembly District continues to rise and proves burdensome to our communities.  Medicaid consumed more than $1 billion per week in the 2011 state budget and is devouring our local revenue.

The Governor has shown an interest in acquiring private funds to support public programs, yet has not committed to reducing the cost of mandates on the New York taxpayer.  I am going to fight this year for reform of the Medicaid. I hope the Governor and my colleagues in the Legislature will support me this coming session in providing Medicaid mandate relief, a real middle class tax cut, and school aid reform.

(New Hartford, NY – Jan. 2012)  A Children’s Film Making Program begins Jan. 14 at the New Hartford  YMCA SACC center, 25 Oxford Road in New Hartford. Registrations are being accepted now at the New Hartford YMCA School Age Child Care Center. Call 797-4787 or email Danielle Trzcinski at dtrzcinski@ymcatrivalley.org.

This newly developed YMCA program gives kids the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of film making. As the children build and create their own ideas they learn skills that will include acting, screen writing and producing while incorporating and encouraging independent thinking, character development and creative minds.

The program will include 24 weeks (Saturdays) of on-camera acting, screen writing, producing and editing. Students will collaborate on writing, producing and acting in their own screen play that will allow each “crew” member to experience their contribution in varying production roles (ie. Director, Camera Operator).

At the end of their film making journey children will experience a “Red Carpet” moment by having their very own film premier with family and friends!

After twenty two years working inHollywoodas both an actress and production manager at three major studios, Chase Clifford has returned to the area to instruct this fully professional project.

For more information call the New Hartford YMCA SACC office at: 315-797-4787

Or email Danielle Trzcinski ~ School Age Child Care Director at dtrzcinski@ymcatrivalley.org.

Registration is limited.

(New Hartford, NY – Jan. 2012) What can a cookie do? More than you see!

Sending cookies to troops overseas, creating a playroom for homeless children to enjoy, helping to save homeless pets, purchasing toys for a children’s hospital, donating hair to make wigs for cancer survivors and patients, and using troop proceeds to purchase a llama for a family in Peru – these are just some of the things Girl Scouts have done with their cookie proceeds.

Girl Scouts are launching their own businesses again on January 11. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is about more than raising money. The cookie program is a hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial program that teaches girls skills that will help them grow into leaders in their own lives, leaders in business and leaders in the world. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program girls learn goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

In recognition of our 100^th Anniversary Year there is a new cookie, Savannah Smiles. Savannah Smiles is inspired by the Girl Scouts’ founder, Juliette Gordon Low’s hometown, Savannah, Georgia. The cookie is a lemon cookie dusted with powdered sugar on the outside. The other cookies available this year are Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, Tagalongs, Dulce de Leche, and Thank You Berry Munch. Cookies are still $3.50 per box.

Girl Scout Cookie booth sales begin February 18. To find a booth sale near you visit the booth sale locator at www.gsnypenn.org or download the free booth sale locator app.

(New Hartford, NY – Dec. 20, 2011) Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford) has called on the State Legislature to address a bill that would require stricter penalties for sex offenders. If enacted, such a measure could help prevent cases like that of released serial rapist Robert Blainey, who is now charged with murder.

“There is clear evidence that sex crimes are the result of repeat criminal behavior committed by very disturbed individuals. These criminals are in need of treatment and should be separated from the public until trained criminal and mental health professionals deem that they no longer pose a threat to themselves or the community,” said Tenney. “When it comes to public safety, we cannot take any risks. We, in state government, must send a firm and undeniable message that repeat offenses will not be tolerated.”

Blainey was first imprisoned in the early 1980s after he attempted to rape an 8-year-old girl in Madison County. After being released on parole, he committed two more rapes. He served time for these crimes and was again released on parole. This time, he skipped out on his parole and was caught several weeks later during a routine traffic stop in Montoursville, Pa. Blainey was driving the car of Linda Turner, a North Utica homicide victim. Turner was the owner of Davis Motel on Herkimer Road and lived on the same property. Her body was found Nov. 3 inside the hotel. Her car was not at the scene.

Tenney said, “Despite the United States Marshall’s attempts to find Mr. Blainey, he disappeared off the radar. In this time, he allegedly murdered an innocent, hard-working woman and may have committed numerous other crimes during his fugitive run. This is exactly why we need Albany to give law enforcement better tools to keep track of sex offenders – because they will strike again if given the chance.”

To address this public safety threat, Tenney is sponsoring Assembly Bill 4723, which requires registered sex offenders to wear a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet upon their release from prison. Although current law allows for the electronic monitoring of certain individuals released on probation, state law does not require this action. Tenney believes that because the New York State Sex Offender Registration Act already requires certain sex offenders, sexual predators, sexually-violent offenders or predicate sex offenders to register for life and keep authorities apprised of their home address, that A.4723, if enacted, would help ensure this law is enforced to better protect the public.

“Furthermore, having to wear ankle bracelets would help deter these criminals from engaging in additional criminal behavior and comply with the terms of their parole. There will no longer be a ‘what if’ or ‘maybe I can get away with it’ possibility for these depraved individuals to act again,” said Tenney. “If enacted, this measure would ensure that law enforcement officials can constantly track the whereabouts of these offenders and that the public will be better protected.”

A.4723 is currently under consideration in the Assembly Corrections Committee. Assemblywoman Tenney is encouraging members of the public to contact Committee Chairman Jeffrion L. Aubry to ask that he immediately take action on A.4723 and bring the bill before the full Assembly for an up or down vote.

Legislative Column from Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford)

(Dec. 20, 2011)  I recently joined with State Senator Joseph Griffo and the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) to unveil a new study regarding the economic impact and quality of life of New Yorkers who are visually impaired or blind. This issue is personally close to my heart, as my father was visually impaired and eventually became blind.

Entitled An Impact Analysis of the Industries for the Blind of New York State and Its Affiliated Agencies, the study was commissioned by Industries for the Blind of New York State, Inc. (IBNYS) and conducted by the University at Buffalo Regional Institute.

The study confirmed that being blind or visually impaired does not impede one’s employment abilities or opportunities in New York State. In fact, my own father served as a judge and former Governor David Paterson was the state’s first legally-blind governor.

According to the report, the work done by blind or visually impaired New Yorkers through IBNYS contributes $168 million to the state’s economy through eight regional agencies including Utica-based CABVI. Furthermore, IBNYS’ training costs per employee average $4,400, compared to the $10,000 per person spent by the state to provide federally-mandated training.

From this report, it is clear that the innovation and leadership at IBNYS, and agencies like CABVI, is helping to save taxpayer dollars and also put New Yorkers back to work. As we continue our efforts to spur economic development and create jobs, it is important to take notice of job-creators who are thinking outside of the box and, when applicable, use their successes as models for job creation across the state.

I would like to congratulate CABVI President and CEO Rudy D’Amico and his staff for their tireless efforts to employ people who are blind or visually impaired. Currently, CABVI provides comprehensive vision rehabilitation and workforce training programs to more than 1,100 people in eight counties in Central New York. On behalf of these 1,100 residents, thank you for your hard work and efficiency to give visually impaired or blind people a chance to be self sufficient.

This study reaffirms the notion that when creative minds come together for a common cause, they can accomplish great things. I will continue to work with groups like CABVI, IBNYS, local employers, and my colleagues in Albany to focus on job creation – and I ask that constituents from the 115th Assembly District share their ideas and suggestions with me. Please feel free to call me at (315) 853-2838, email me at tenneyc@assembly.state.ny.us or join the conversation online on Facebook.