Assemblywoman Jenne sees farm to school program in action at Hermon-Dekalb

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne had an opportunity to get a first-hand look and taste of her “Drive to 25” pilot farm to school program when she recently joined students, producers and farmers for lunch at Hermon-Dekalb Central School.

Assemblywoman Jenne gladly took the opportunity to discuss the program with students, school staff, the farmers that had provided the beef for the day's hamburgers and producers responsible for the greens and vegetables at the tsalad bar.

She secured $300,000 in funding for the second year of the pilot program in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties in the 2017-18 state budget.

“I came here to see how the second year of our farm to school pilot program in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties is being kicked off . Now that it is in its second year, it has hit the ground running,” she said.

“Last year, we had to work our way through the process with the schools and set up a framework to connect our schools with farmers and producers. Those connections have now been made so this year our schools are off and running,.”Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

Tom Fetchie, food services director at Hermon-Dekalb Central School, said funding the district received through the pilot program allowed him to offer the salad bar featuring local greens for the first time this school year.

Hermon-Dekalb is one of 19 schools in the North Country taking part in the farm to school pilot program in the North Country this school year.

“It's definitely a great program. I was kind of iffy when we first started talking about it, but it has really taken off,” Mr. Fetcie said.

Renee Smith, an AIS teacher at the school and volunteer with the school's farm to school venture, said the numbers show the success of the program.

She said the salad bar is available for students in grades six through 12, and one-third of the district's students are taking advantage of that option.

“This is the first year of the salad bar, and we never imagined the kids would love it as much as they do. We have a number of students who have never eaten school lunches in the past now not bringing their lunches to school,” she noted.

Ms. Smith said school officials wanted to provide an opportunity for the school's students to interact with Assemblywoman Jenne and the farmers and growers responsible for the food on the day's school lunch menu.

“I loved seeing the reaction of the farmers to the kids eating their products. We wanted our students to have a chance to meet the farmers and give the assemblywoman, farmers and producers an opportunity to see the students enjoying their products,” she noted.

Ms. Smith said the district had started talking to local farmers before funding from the “Drive to 25” grant program in the North Country became available.

“We had started with apples from a local orchard. Then the grant came out. Now we have locally grown lettuce, radishes, scallions and tomatoes. Our hamburgers and pork sausages came from animals raised on local farms. The maple syrup we use with our pancakes is local,” she added.

Ms. Smith said she is hopeful they will continue to expand the farm to school program Assemblywoman Jenne has brought to the North Country.

“I'm passionate about the farm to school program. I think every school in the state should be able to participate, but without additional funding there are many schools that can't take the chance to add local foods to their school cafeteria offerings,” she noted.

Hermon-Dekalb School Superintendent Mark White said the opportunities generated by the grant have benefitted the district, its students and local growers and producers.

“It's allowed us to expand offerings of local foods in our building, and our students are embracing it as well. We have our salad bar with locally produced food, and it is changing the diet at lunch for a lot of our kids. We hope to be able to keep it,” he stressed.

Eighth graders Ryley Hale, Paige Martin and Allison Shorette count themselves among the big fans of the salad bar at their school.

“The salad bar just offers so many options. It's good salad. It's healthy, and it tastes good. The other food you get at school usually isn't as good,” Ms. Shorette suggested.

Ms. Hale said she brought her lunch to school in the past, but the salad bar option means she is now getting her lunch at school.

Ms. Martin, noting her family has three gardens, said she has grown up eating locally produced foods. She said she enjoys the opportunity to eat local products at school.

The young women also said they have been surprised by the popularity of the salad bar with their male classmates.

“At first all the boys were like - salad?” Ms. Hale said, noting they didn't seem overly impressed by the new option for school lunches. “But after about the first week they started loving it. I told 'em, 'There you go,’” she recalled.

“A lot of the guys were packing their lunches every day,” Ms. Martin added. “Now they are eating salads every day.”

Assemblywoman Jenne said the trip to Hermon-Dekalb served as further proof of the merits of the farm to school program.

“It was amazing seeing all the kids grabbing salads for lunch. The school started selling two salads a day when they first started offering the salad bar, and they are already up to 50 salads a day. That's a third of their junior high and high school population. It's clear the kids are getting more excited and interested in eating fresh, local foods. It's healthier for the kids, and it's benefiting our local growers and producers, and our local economy,” according to the assemblywoman.

She said the $300,000 for the pilot program is part of over a $1 million included in the budget for farm to school initiatives around the state that will help schools purchase more food from local farmers and expand access to healthy local food for students.The pilot program for the North Country is being administered by the Adirondack North Country Association.

IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A. Jenne (r) visits with Hermon-Dekalb High School student Miranda White at the salad bar in the school's cafeteria. The district has been able to expand its offering of local produce and meats after receiving a grant from a pilot farm to school program operating in the North Country. Assemblywoman Jenne secured $300,000 in the 2017-18 state budget for the second year of the pilot program operating in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.

BOTTOM PHOTOS:

Hermon-Dekalb High School student Miranda White poses with Kevin Richardson, president of Agbotic Inc. and Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne. The greens in Ms. White's salad were grown by Agbotic at its Sackets Harbor greenhouse. Assemblywoman Jenne secured funding in the 2017-18 state budget for the second year of a pilot farm to school program at North Country schools.

Hermon-Dekalb Central School cafeteria staff member Sherry Harmer receives assistance from Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne as she prepares a meal of a hamburger and salad for elementary school student Wyatt Watkins. The beef came from a farm in Edwards, and the greens were grown at a greenhouse in Sackets Harbor.

Hermon-Dekalb Central School cafeteria staff member Sherry Harmer chats with Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne as she prepares plates for elementary school students. School officials invited Assemblywoman Jenne and local farmers who are providing produce and meats to a luncheon at the school so they could see how popular the meals are with the school's student. The district has expanded its farm to school program as a result of funding for a pilot farm to school program secured by Assemblywoman Jenne in the 2017-18 state budget.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne speaks to students during a lunch period at Hermon-Dekalb Central School.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (l) greets students in the lunch line at Hermon-Dekalb Central School as cafeteria staff employee Sherry Harmer gets set to place hamburgers and salads on plates.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne checks out the meal of local foods being served to Hermon-Dekalb Central Elementary School student Wyatt Watkins by cafeteria staff member Sherry Harmer.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne discusses the farm to school program with Agbotic President Kevin Richardson during a recent luncheon with students at Hermon-Dekalb Central School. The district has been able to expand its offering of local produce and meats after receiving a grant from a pilot farm to school program operating in the North Country. Assemblywoman Jenne secured $300,000 in the 2017-18 state budget for the second year of the pilot program operating in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with students, growers and farmers around the salad bar during a luncheon at Hermon-Dekalb Central School. School officials wanted to provide an opportunity for their students to interact with the farmers and growers providing products to the school's cafeteria. Pictured are (l-r): John Dewar, Taylor Woods, Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, Josh Bakelaar of ANCA, Deanna Kennedy, Keanna Weir, Kevin Richardson of Agbotic, John Matejcik, Rachael Matejcik, Larry Bullock of Bullock Farms, Hermon-Dekalb School Food Services Director Tom Fetcie, Jude Smith, Karrigan Harris, Patrick Tehonica, Brooke Reid and Kari Hance.

Assemblywoman Jenne's bill expanding telehealth to schools signed by Governor Cuomo

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (D-Theresa) has announced legislation she sponsored to expand telehealth services to schools and child care centers in the state has been signed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

The legislation will allow physicians, dentists and mental health professionals to use telehealth to connect with and provide care to students in public, private and charter elementary and secondary schools, school-age child care programs and day care centers.

"This is another important step in expanding health care access for New York State residents. It will be extremely beneficial for areas of the state, including the North Country, that struggle with healthcare provider shortages," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"It also ties in nicely with the community schools model that seeks to expand services to meet all of our students' needs. We know it’s hard to focus on learning if a student is sick or suffering from dental or mental health issues. The expansion of telehealth offers the potential to address the health issues more quickly," she noted.

Assemblywoman Jenne said pilot programs that have used telehealth services at schools around the state have had encouraging results.

She pointed, for example, to the Rochester City School District's partnership with the University of Rochester Medical Center's Health-e-Access telemedicine program.

That program allows a student to be seen by a physician without having to leave the school grounds.

A video connection, typically from a school nurse's office, allows a medical professional to communicate with the student and their guardian, review digital images through instruments such as ear and throat scopes, make a diagnosis and write any necessary prescriptions.

"This offers an opportunity to overcome distance barriers that create so many challenges for North Country families seeking health care, improves access to health care and reduces the amount of time students spend out of school," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The telehealth model of providing medical care to students from a remote location has proven successful in addressing issues such as ear infections, sore throats and respiratory illnesses.

A University of Rochester study found that 96 percent of acute care illness visits could be successfully treated without the need for in-patient care.

Assemblywoman Jenne sponsored the bill (A4703) in the state Assembly, and it was carried by Senator Kemp Hannon in the state Senate.

It is the second telehealth bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Jenne that has been signed into law by Gov. Cuomo this summer.

The first bill (A.1464) amended the public health law by expanding the definition of originating site to allow primary care providers to use telehealth to connect with and provide care to seniors.

The legislation provides the opportunity for adult care facilities to use telehealth services when they are amenable to a patient's medical needs.

"It’s all about using the technology now available to expand access to health care for residents of the North Country and around the state. Telehealth provides an important opportunity to expand access to health care for North Country families, and I’ll keep working on steps to grow this health care option in the state," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Assemblywoman Jenne gets bird's eye view of impact of wind turbines on Fort Drum operations

Major General Walter Piatt and his leadership team, including several representatives from the Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield operations, invited federal and state officials to Fort Drum this week to discuss the potential impact planned wind projects could have on future training operations at Fort Drum and the impact current wind farms are already having on operations.

The presentation included a trip to the air traffic control tower, where we were able to see some of the challenges presented by the wind towers on radar, the steps taken to mitigate those issues and the impact that mitigation has on operations. It was part on an on-going series of conversations I have had with Fort Drum leaders about this important issue,

This week's visit was very informative and helpful as I work on drafting legislation that would protect Fort Drum’s training capabilities by excluding wind turbine developments surrounding the installation and its training grounds from receiving state subsidies.

With at least eight new wind farms proposed around Fort Drum, it is critical we don't ignore the impact those developments could have on training operations that translate to troop readiness and future mission readiness of the men snd women serving in our military.

Major General Piatt made it clear Fort Drum leaders want and support positive growth for the community. He said they are simply asking to be a part of strategic planning so that community and state leaders and developers can take into consideration the impact those wind farms could have on Fort Drum's current and future operations.

That seems like more than a reasonable request as we continue to discuss our region's economy and our national defense, where our Fort Drum leaders are always training for emerging threats.

IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne reviews a map of Fort Drum with Major General Walter Piatt, center, and Eric Wagenaar, deputy to the garrison commander.

BOTTOM PHOTOS:

Lloyd Dropps (l), airfield manager of Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, and Derek Kallen (r), chief of air traffic control at the airfield, discuss some of the air space used for training with Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne.

Lloyd Dropps (r), airfield manager of Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, and Derek Kallen (l), chief of air traffic control at the airfield, discuss some of the air space used for training with Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne.

Fort Drum Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security Director Andrew Kennedy talks to Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization Executive Director Brian Ashley, representatives for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush about the potential impact of additional wind turbines in the Fort Drum area on the fort's training operations as well as on weather data received from a station in Montague.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne listens as 10th Mountain Division Commander Major General Walter Piatt shares his concerns about the potential impact of an explosion of wind turbines in the area surrounding Fort Drum on the base's operation.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne listens as 10th Mountain Division Commander Major General Walter Piatt shares his concerns about the potential impact of an explosion of wind turbines in the area surrounding Fort Drum on the base's operation.

Colonel Brian Eifler (r), deputy commander - Operations for the 10th Mountain Division, listens as Captain Patrick Phillipe (l), acting commander of the Air Force Weather Detachment at Fort Drum, discusses the impact wind turbines are having on collecting weather data from the Montague station with Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne.

Captain Patrick Phillipe (l), acting commander of the Air Force Weather Detachment at Fort Drum, says the proximity of the wind towers at Maple Ridge and the elevation of those towers, create reflectivity images and ghost echoes on radar impacting the reliability of data from the Montague weather station used by the U.S. Army, FAA and National Weather Service. "It underestimates real time data - snow and rain are underestimated and wind data is skewed," he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Todd Polk, Plans, Analysis and Information, discusses proposed industrial wind farms that could impact operations at Fort Drum.

Derek Kallen, chief of Air Traffic Control at the Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, shows Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne how the wind towers at Maple Ridge show up on the radar used in the air traffic control tower on the Wheeler-Sack airfield.

Derek Kallen, chief of Air Traffic Control at the Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, shows Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne how the wind towers at Maple Ridge show up on the radar used in the air traffic control tower on the Wheeler-Sack airfield.

Assemblywoman Jenne exploring ways to meet clean energy goals without jeopardizing Fort Drum’s capabilities

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (D-Theresa) is working with stakeholders as she drafts legislation that would protect Fort Drum’s training capabilities by excluding wind turbine developments surrounding the installation and its training grounds from receiving state subsidies. 

Fort Drum, the largest single site employer in New York State, is the premier military training installation in the Northeastern United States.

"Fort Drum is one of the premier military installations in the United States and plays a critical role in our country's national defense," Assemblywoman Jenne, a senior member of the state Assembly's Energy and Agriculture committees, said. 

"With approximately 10 new wind farms proposed or under construction around Fort Drum, their impact on training operations that translates to troop readiness and future mission readiness cannot be ignored," she added. 

Assemblywoman Jenne, a long-time proponent of renewable energy, said she believes the state can meet its clean energy goals without jeopardizing the capabilities at Fort Drum. 

"This important national defense asset cannot be taken for granted. I have grave concerns that the base, with its $1.2 billion annual impact on our state's economy, could be negatively impacted if neighboring wind turbine projects hamper its ability to operate efficiently and effectively," she stressed.

Assemblywoman Jenne said she has discussed the potential impact of additional wind farms near Fort Drum in recent weeks with community members, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Office (FDRLO) and representatives from the installation.

FDRLO Executive Director Brian Ashley indicated those conversations are ongoing. “The FDRLO welcomes the Assemblywoman’s voice on this crucial issue. Our mission is to protect and enhance Fort Drum's military value and anything that prevents our soldiers from training to the highest level of readiness is an unacceptable threat,” he said.

Assemblywoman Jenne stressed her concerns were not a 'not in my backyard' stance. "This is a crucial step necessary to ensure Fort Drum's long-term viability. That becomes even more important with word this week the Pentagon is supporting a proposal by the leadership of the Senate Armed Forces Committee to conduct another round of base closings in 2019," she said.

The assemblywoman said she expects to introduce legislation following additional briefings with members of Fort Drum's leadership and other stakeholders over the next few weeks.

Assemblywoman Jenne said she remains committed to the New York State energy standards plan that would reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by the year 2030.

"We should be doing everything we can to embrace an 'all of the above' approach to renewable energy production so that we continue to wean our nation off foreign oil and energy sources heavily polluting our environment," she said.

She is the prime Assembly sponsor on legislation that would support the growing renewable energy sector in New York, including a bill (A.7275) that would direct additional investment toward existing hydroelectric facilities to increase their generation with little additional environmental impact. Many of those dams are built in rivers located in or near the 116th Assembly District.

"We have to make it a priority to invest in our most reliable existing renewable energy assets already on line," Assemblywoman Jenne said. "Additionally, given the record rainfall we've experienced this year and the potential for increasingly severe weather events in the future, it is important for us to work with dam operators to ensure our infrastructure is well maintained and hardy. We are seeing the importance of properly maintaining our infrastructure in the aftermath of recent hurricanes.”

Assemblywoman Jenne is also sponsoring legislation (A.1540) that would require the state to prioritize long-term contracts of more than 20 years with renewable energy producers to further insulate these important assets to market volatility. 

Another piece of legislation she sponsors would provide stability of the converted coal-fired biomass facilities at Fort Drum and indirectly support a cluster of biomass generators (A.8603). Fort Drum has actually led the way in supporting readiness compatible green energy production.

"No one is better able to understand the importance of renewable energy than the leadership at Fort Drum," Assemblywoman Jenne said. "Developing our green resources will, in the long term, reinvigorate our forestry industry, support jobs here in the North Country, improve our quality of life and allow our country to move closer to energy independence."

Assemblywoman Jenne stressed she is well aware of the many landowners, especially farmers, who have started looking at wind turbines as a source of additional income.

"While these wind farms are a threat to the readiness at Fort Drum, it's important to remember that many North Country residents are looking at them as a way to make ends meet in a challenging agricultural marketplace," she said. 

"That is why I have supported efforts to compensate landowners that agree not to develop their land in ways that jeopardize training activities at Fort Drum. I am also working to secure funding specifically for landowners who will be negatively impacted by legislation that would exclude parts of the region from state wind subsidies,” she added.

"I believe we can strike a balance for the North Country that reflects our historic support of national defense and our largest economic sector - agriculture. Upstate New York, the North Country in particular, is a leading generator of green energy. Instead of investing in industrial wind in the Fort Drum region, I am confident that our commitment to biomass, solar, legacy hydro plants and other green energy sources will create at least as many jobs while helping meet the state’s clean energy targets," Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

Assemblywoman Jenne marches with NYSUT in Massena's annual Solidarity Day Parade

 It was a pleasure to join members of the New York State United Teachers at today's Solidarity Day Parade. The teachers I talked to were excited about getting students in their classrooms and starting the 2017-18 school year. There are a number of positive initiatives planned in our local schools this year. I saw teachers from schools in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Franklin county schools marching in this year's parade. NYSUT does a great job fighting for North Country schools and students.

Assemblywoman Jenne: School bus camera bill would benefit student safety

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne said she is hopeful momentum can be gained this year to move forward legislation she is co-sponsoring that would fund the "school bus camera safety act" which would place safety arm cameras on school buses.

"School buses filled with students will be back on the road again this week, and I am certain there will immediately be reports of motorists passing those buses when they are stopped," Jenne said.

"The number of violations from state law enforcement is staggering, and we know the numbers are also significant in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties," Assemblywoman Jenne added.

The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee has reported approximately 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass school buses on a daily basis when school is in session. Thirty-five students have been hit by motorists illegally passing schools buses in the past four years.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the governor's office has reported it is estimated that 10 million drivers pass school buses nationally every year.

Passing vehicles cause an estimated two-thirds of fatalities when school buses are loading and unloading, according to the American School Bus Council.

More school-age pedestrians are killed between 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. than at any other time of day.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the magnitude of the problem was illustrated on April 27 with the annual Operation Safe Stop enforcement day in New York State.

Seventy police agencies took part in a concerted effort and issued 1,037 tickets to motorists charged with illegally passing stopped school buses.

Motorists convicted of illegally passing stopped school buses face fines ranging from a minimum of $250 for a first violation to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years.

Convictions for unlawfully passing a school bus while it’s stopped to get or let off passengers also results in five points on ones license.

"It is clear this is a major issue in the North Country with reports of more and more distracted drivers on our streets and highways," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"School bus drivers in the Potsdam Central School District felt the problem was serious enough that they led a fundraising effort last year to raise monies to purchase cameras for all buses in an effort to better identify motorists that are illegally passing their school buses," she noted.

She pointed out Potsdam Central school bus drivers had noted the cameras were necessary because they often found it difficult to get the license plate numbers of vehicles that were illegally passing their buses.

"I applaud their effort, but it is clear it makes common sense to make the purchase of safety arm cameras eligible for state aid across the state," she said.

Assemblywoman Jenne said she has cosponsored legislation (A321) carried by Assemblyman William Magnarelli that would provide state funding to assist school districts purchase safety arm cameras for their fleets.

The School Bus Safety Act would authorize the installation of safety arm cameras on school buses and allow the images captured on those cameras to be used for the prosecution of illegally passing a school bus cases.

Civil fines would be levied against the owner of vehicles that are prosecuted as the result of evidence from the school bus cameras. The bill language would also allow a portion of the revenue from fine money to be turned back to the schools to fund the purchase of cameras and other safety equipment.

"I'm hopeful this is the year we can move this bill out of committee and to the floor of the state Assembly for a vote. This is common sense legislation that would serve as another tool in the effort to reduce the number of motorists that violate laws placed on the books in an effort to protect the safety of students," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"As the mom of two students, I know it makes no sense to delay moving this legislation forward until we are faced with a tragedy. We need to focus on moving this legislation forward during our next legislative session," she stressed.