(Waterville, NY – Jan. 19, 2012) The State Police in Waterville investigated a two vehicle personal injury motor vehicle accident, which occurred on Route 5 at the intersection of Route 233 in the Town of Westmoreland.

On Jan.19 at about 8:10 a.m. Robert L. Funk 3rd was operating a 1999 Ford Taurus east on State Route 5, when his vehicle struck the rear of a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck, operated by Lisa A. Medokowich, which was stopped on Route 5 waiting to turn north onto Route 233. Medokowich, 43, of Vernon was transported by Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance to Oneida Healthcare for treatment of minor injuries.

Funk’s vehicle was heavily damaged and he sat in the State Police vehicle while awaiting a tow truck.

The investigating Trooper detected an odor of marijuana coming from Funk while he was seated in the Trooper’s vehicle. He was subsequently found to be in possession of approximately 4.8 grams of marijuana. Funk, age 32, of Chittenango was issued an appearance ticket for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (violation) and a uniform traffic ticket for Following Too Closely, both returnable Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. in the Town of Westmoreland Court.

The Town of Westmoreland Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

(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.

(Marcy, NY – Dec. 6, 2011) The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Marcy announced the arrest of two individuals who committed a burglary and robbery in the Town of Westmoreland on March 2, 2010. On this date, a woman’s house was entered and property was forcibly stolen from her.

On Feb. 16, 2011, State Police arrested Lydia Perry-Mosher, 24, of 717 Wolf St., Syracuse and charged her with second-degree Robbery. She was subsequently arraigned in the Town of Westmoreland Court and was committed to the Oneida County Jail on bail.

On Dec. 1, 2011, Perry-Mosher’s accomplice, John Frateschi, 64, formerly of 5816 Stonegate Heights Drive, Jamesville, who is currently an inmate at Groveland Correctional Facility, was arraigned in Oneida County Court on an indictment charging him with second-degree Burglary. He was remanded back to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Frateschi is currently incarcerated on a conviction for first-degree Attempted Robbery and second-degree Burglary from an unrelated incident in Onondaga County.

(Westmoreland, NY – Nov. 13, 2011) On Sunday Nov. 13 at approximately 2:30 p.m. the State Police at Marcy investigated a Personal Injury auto accident involving a motorcycle at the intersection of Cider Street and West Carter Road (Humphrey Raod) in the Town of Westmoreland.

Curtis Morgan, (27), of Vernon  was traveling north on Cider Street in the Town of Westmoreland when his 1983 Kawasaki motorcycle was struck by a 2003 Lincoln driven by Joseph Virgo, (79), of Rochester.

Virgo had stopped at the intersection of Cider Street and Humphrey Road and failed to observe the motorcycle traveling north on Cider Street, as Virgo entered the intersection he attempted to make a left turn onto Cider Street. Morgan attempted to take evasive action but was unable to avoid striking Virgo’s vehicle. Morgan struck Virgo’s vehicle and was ejected from the motorcycle landing on the roadway.

Morgan was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital with non -life -threatening injuries. Virgo was not injured in the accident.

The accident is still under investigation.

(Rome, NY – Nov. 13, 201) State Police in Marcy arrested 63-year-old Sharon Henderson of Westmoreland for third-degree Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, a Misdemeanor.

On Saturday Nov. 12 at approximately 5 p.m., Sharon Henderson was stopped on Martin Street in the City of Rome by the New York State Police for a vehicle and traffic violation. While the Trooper was conducting a file check of the driver, Henderson fled the scene driving at a high rate of speed down Martin Street eventually making her way onto State Route 365 westbound with the Trooper in close pursuit.

The pursuit was terminated however; Henderson was found a short while later in the Town of Verona after she was involved in a one car motor vehicle accident.

Henderson was taken into custody by the New York State Police with the assistance of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department and charged with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in the 3rd degree, Reckless Driving as well as numerous Vehicle and Traffic Violations.

She was remanded to Rome City lock up and was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.

Henderson was not injured in the accident.

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

(New Hartford, NY) As we head into the cold winter months, and household budgets already stretched thin in this still difficult economy, many hardworking families, young residents and seniors are concerned about how they will afford their home heating bills. There is help. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally-funded program that helps thousands of New Yorkers stay warm, and I encourage concerned citizens to take a closer look at this valuable program.

Not only does HEAP provide assistance to supplement a household’s annual energy costs, it also provides assistance in heat-related emergencies such as when households run out of fuel oil, kerosene or propane, your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or if you are replacing a furnace. HEAP eligibility is determined by income, age of household residents (including children), and the home’s primary heating source.

Regular HEAP benefit periods open November 16, 2011 and emergency benefits open January 3, 2012. HEAP’s heating equipment replacement period is already open. To learn more, please visit the New York State Office of the Temporary and Disability Assistance’s website at www.otda.ny.gov/programs/heap or call toll-free at 1-800-342-3009.

Conserving heat and energy this winter will help all of us make the most of our household budgets. To save energy costs, make sure your home is well insulated, especially around windows and doors, keep your thermostat set to the lowest comfortable temperature, and consider investing in energy efficient appliances. To learn more tips or tax credits and other benefits of making energy efficiency improvements in your home or business, please visit the New York State Energy Research and Development’s website at www.nyserda.ny.gov.

As always, if you or your neighbors in Oneida and Oswego counties are in need of assistance regarding HEAP or any other state issue, please do not hesitate to contact me by emailing tenneyc@assembly.state.ny.us or calling my office in the Westmoreland School Complex at 315-853-2383.

(Oneida County, NY – Oct. 2011) October 2-8 is National 4-H Week, and Oneida County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world.

Recent findings from Tufts University’s 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H’ers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities.

In Oneida County, more than 300 4-H members and 120 volunteers are involved in 4‑H.  The Oneida County 4-H program reaches over 3000 total youth through after-school programs and other 4-H sponsored activities throughout the year.

Oneida county 4-H members are involved in a wide variety of projects from animals to robotics.  They actively participate in public communication events, community service and project specific shows and competitions.  4-H volunteers guide youth by using their individual expertise and mentoring them throughout the year.  An abundant amount of local, state, and national opportunities are available to those involved in 4-H.  These opportunities and more are available through the 4-H program and help us build our leaders of tomorrow.

Learn how you can become involved in 4-H by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County at (315) 736-3394, extension 122 or email Kristi Cranwell at kac292@cornell.edu

(Syracuse, NY – Sept. 28, 2011) The Central New York Region has everything a traveler could want out of a visit to New York State, from something old (historical landmarks, museums and rustic B&Bs) to something new (state-of-the-art science centers, modern theatrical performances and high-end spas). To emphasize the “something old,” the area is overflowing with quaint shops touting eclectic antiques and collectibles, offering a slice of the region’s rich past. It is truly a picker’s (and a historian’s) paradise.

For starters, the Madison-Bouckville area offers a year-round antique venue with over 30 shops featuring hundreds of dealers, plus the largest antique show in New York State every third week in August. This event, the Madison Bouckville Antique Week, draws more than 2,000 dealers for a weeklong show along one two-mile stretch of Route 20. Another superb find for antique hunters in Madison County is The Market at Oneida Commons, a neat little mall open year-round that’s packed with vintage items, crafts, jewelry, books, furniture, locally-produced Pride of NY foods and other odds and ends that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Cobbler & C. in Sharon Springs, Schoharie County, offers a treasure trove of antiques. Up on the second floor is a wide array of used, but “new to you” goods: a collection of old dishes, glassware, books, magazines and other collectibles.

In Oneida County, the Westmoreland Antique Center features 80 dealer spaces with a vast array of antiques and vintage collectibles like holiday merchandise, milk bottles, postcards and advertising collectibles, plus a vast selection of glassware, china and furniture.

Charlotte’s Antiques in Chenango County welcomes antique enthusiasts to pore over home décor, women’s clothing and jewelry, and rare collectibles, among other specialty items. For Iroquois artifacts, one-of-a-kind classics and various collectibles, Carriage Barn Antiques, Iroquois Antiques and Pheasant Farm Antiques are a few popular stops in the area.

The Little Falls Antique Center in Herkimer County showcases oldies but goodies from 18 dealers. Just a ways down the street, Stone Mill of Little Falls houses everything vintage from lighting, to clothing, to decorative arts and prints, plus local treasures like Oriental carpets from Erie Canal Carpets, sterling silver and cookbooks. The unexpected can be expected in the old factory atmosphere of this 1839 mill built on the banks of the Mohawk River, as the inventory is ever changing. Greater Binghamton’s Clinton Street, aptly named the “Antique Row,” is a hot spot for antiquing, hosting as many as 30 dealers at a given time. The locale makes perfect sense, as Clinton Street itself is an antique – it existed long before the city of Binghamton.

Cooperstown in Otsego County is saturated in antiquing opportunities. More than 50 shops line the area, from main streets to country roads, including NYS Route 7 corridor from Unadilla to Oneonta, the NYS Route 28 corridor from Oneonta to Cooperstown, and US Route 20, the road to the Madison-Bouckville Antique Show. For those seeking a myriad of vintage items, from china and glassware to historic textiles and furniture, shops like Barkley Barn Blue Ribbon Antiques, Lake Antiques and Antiques & Artifacts are must-sees. Even the antiquing venues themselves are fascinating and range from charming homes to old barns brimming with collectibles.

For some, a successful hunt for the perfect antique can take months or even years. The Central New York Region’s seemingly limitless supply of rare antiques and collectibles in dozens of shops across the area, however, can certainly help to shorten the duration of that hunt and make it quite enjoyable along the way.

For more antiquing opportunities and other information about the Central New York Region, check out:www.JustGoCNY.com.

(Sept. 23, 2011) A pavement repair project between Interchange 32 (Westmoreland, Rome, Route 233) and 34 (Canastota, Route 13) will result in alternating around-the-clock single lane closures in both directions beginning Tuesday morning, Sept. 27 the New York State Thruway Authority announced.

Weather permitting, pavement repairs will take place in a number of areas in both directions between Westmoreland and Canastota, beginning at 7 a.m. Work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29.

During this project, motorists may experience moderate delays of five to 20 minutes longer than normal time.

A Variable Message Sign (VMS) will be activated to alert eastbound motorists of the closure and any delays.

The Thruway Authority appreciates motorists’ patience and understanding while this work takes place.

(Sept. 15, 2011) In light of the rushed, and unpublicized, public comment period that resulted in the closure of state correctional facilities, as well as the devastation felt throughout the state as the result of Hurricanes Irene and Lee, Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford) is joining a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers calling for an extended 180-day comment period on the state’s proposed moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as hydrofracking, of the Marcellus Shale in New York State.

“A significant portion of our state is currently underwater or trying to recover from the devastating flooding and other storm damage – but these are the same communities that will be most affected by any decision regarding hydrofracking,” said the assemblywoman. “The state should extend the public comment period so that all New Yorkers have a voice in this decision as well as to help the state avoid making the same mistakes made regarding prison closures.”

Assemblywoman Tenney has been a leading opponent of the governor’s decision to close correctional facilities – especially since the prisons being closed are already in some of the state’s most economically-struggling areas and will further compromise the ability of these regions, and their residents, to survive. In fact, she has tried to obtain information from the governor’s office and the state Department of Corrections regarding the closure of the Oneida Correctional Facility and even filed a Freedom of Information Request but, to date, has not received adequate information to help local officials, prison employees, area employers and concerned residents plan for the impending closure of the prison. From this experience, she believes a 60- or 90-day public comment period is inadequate.

To further ensure this process is more effective during the hydrofracking public comment period, the assemblywoman has not only written to the governor but signed on to sponsor bipartisan legislation that would extend the public comment period to a 180-day period.  Furthermore, Assemblywoman Tenney and the coalition are asking that the public hearing schedule be expanded to include public hearings in each of the 10 economic development regions of the state to better ensure residents, farmers, and employers from every region of the state have an opportunity to directly share their views, concerns and suggestions relating to hydrofracking. Finally, they are requesting that the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) accept public comments via their website through an online web form.

Assemblywoman Tenney encourages New Yorkers to share their views on hydrofracking with the DEC, the governor’s office or her office. She will forward any comments received at her office to both the governor and the DEC so that they will be considered during the public comment period, which is currently slated to close on December 12, 2011. To share your views please email her at tenneyc@assembly.state.ny.us or write to her office at 5176 State Route 233, PO Box 597, Westmoreland, NY 13490.