Assemblywoman Jenne talks school safety with Watertown City School District students

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne recently spent time at Watertown High School listening to students' concerns about school safety.

She said she made the visit after receiving postcards from Watertown City School District students sharing their concerns about school safety in the wake of the attack at Parkland High School in Florida in February that left 17 students and staff dead.

Watertown school officials had staged an activity on the one-month anniversary of the school shooting, and school staff had encouraged students to share their concerns with elected officials representing the area.

Assemblywoman Jenne said she was moved by a letter she received from students at Wiley Intermediate School and by postcards penned by high school students.

She said she felt it was important to sit down with the students and listen to their concerns. The school visit was planned on the day when schools around the country were holding events to mark the 19th anniversary of the April 1999 Columbine school shooting that left 12 students and one teacher dead.

Assemblywoman Jenne said she met with a class at Wiley Intermediate School before sitting down with two groups at Watertown High School.

"I expected there would be thoughtful dialogue, and there was. There were clearly kids that had different views than the majority of the students, and they were treated with respect by their peers. It was a positive and thoughtful conversation," she said.

"The discussion ranged from gun violence and the motive for kids that are involved in these horrific incidents to the need to expand the availability of mental health services for young people and bullying,” she added.

She started her visit to the high school by sitting down with students in the journalism and AP English classes.

"We talked about the school climate, and we also discussed the role social media can play in bullying and making students feel isolated," Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

She then met with a larger group of students ranging from sophomores to seniors that had been engaged in the school safety issue.

"It was a great dialogue. We talked about everything from arming teachers to metal detectors. We talked about legislation including a bill recently passed in the state Assembly that would allow family members to initiate court proceedings that could lead to family members they considered to be a threat to themselves or others to have their weapons seized for a period of time," according to the assemblywoman.

"We also talked about the stress facing today's students, trends in society that have helped fuel school violence and the role students can play in improving the climate in their school communities," she added.

Assemblywoman Jenne said she benefitted from having the opportunity to hear the concerns expressed by students about school safety.

"It was an opportunity to listen to the students, for me to elicit responses to some of my concerns and to have a give and take about some challenging issues with the students. I also had an opportunity to encourage the students to take care of each other and to hold their classmates acting inappropriately responsible in a supportive, positive way," she said.

Watertown City School District Superintendent Patti LaBarr said she appreciated the assemblywoman's willingness to meet with the students.

"Watertown City School Districts students from Watertown High School and Wiley Intermediate were excited to have Assemblywoman Jenne visit our schools. It is awesome that she took time out of her schedule to meet with our students and address their concerns face-to-face. We are beyond grateful for everything that she does for our district,” she said.

IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne meets with a journalism and AP English class at Watertown High School to discuss school safety issues.

BOTTOM PHOTOS:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne meets with a journalism and AP English class at Watertown High School to discuss school safety issues.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne discusses school safety issues with sophomores, juniors and seniors at Watertown High School.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (l) chats with Watertown City School District Superintendent Patti LaBarr (r) and high school.Principal Leslie Atkinson during a recent stop at Watertown High School.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne discusses school safety issues with sophomores, juniors and seniors at Watertown High School.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (l) visits with Watertown City School District Superintendent Patti LaBarr during a recent stop at Watertown High School.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne listens as Natalie, a sixth-grader at Wiley Intermediate School, reads a letter she wrote sharing her concerns about safety at her school in the wake of a February attack at the Parkland school in Florida. The assemblywoman spoke to students in Kathryn Puccia's and Lori David's sixth-grade classes at Wiley Intermediate School.

Assemblywoman Jenne: School trap shooting teams provide students with important lessons about gun safety

I have been asked by a number of people this week about my view on legislation introduced by one of my colleagues in the New York State Assembly that would prohibit marksmanship programs in public schools.

Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to hand out awards for an essay contest for trap shooting team members in the region sponsored by the Jefferson-Lewis chapter of SCOPES. I talked to the coaches and students and learned about their interest in their sport as well as their understanding of their need to respect their weapons and to store them in a safe location when not in use. Those are important lessons that will remain with these students throughout their lives.

Here is some of the language in the bill (A10428):

No public school shall offer marksmanship and/or shooting programs.  For purposes of this section, marksmanship and/or shooting programs shall include any competitive and recreational sporting activities involving proficiency tests of accuracy, precision and speed in using various types of ranged weapons, such as firearms and air guns, in forms such as handguns, rifles and shotguns and/or bows or crossbows.

Here is a statement I have issued on the bill:

"Shooting sports are an important part of our heritage in the North Country. I think it is extremely important to offer training programs that offer gun safety skills for our youth. The coaches on these teams provide out youth how to safely handle and use firearms.

"The coaches and volunteers working with our school shooting teams deserve our support, and I applaud the parents and boosters that support these programs in our communities.

"I clearly do not support this legislation and will be working to educate my colleagues in the Assembly on the benefits of these organized activities.

"These activities are voluntary and provide valuable training for students that should actually make our communities safer, not more dangerous."

Assemblywoman Jenne shares concerns about tipped wage proposal

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne has issued the following statement ahead of a hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Dulles State Office address the possibility of ending minimum wage tip credits in New York State, also known as the subminimum wage.

This proposal would eliminate the subminimum wage.

Hearings will be presided over by State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon and will be focused on the scope of the problem. Preregistration is necessary.

Here is the statement from Assemblywoman Jenne:

I have serious concerns about the economic impact of the proposal to eliminate the minimum wage tip credit.

I support efforts to make sure workers in New York State are fairly compensated for their work, but I am concerned the current proposal is too aggressive and its main consequence will be a loss of jobs when restaurants in places like the North Country are forced to increase menu prices and make people re-evaluate how often they go out to a restaurant to eat.

The tipped workers I have been speaking to tell me they earn an hourly rate, with tips included, considerably higher than the minimum wage. Having worked in restaurants for years myself, I know this is the case for many tipped workers.

Wages and tips are reported to the state on a regular basis, and it should be easy for state authorities to determine if restaurants are using the tipped wage credit inappropriately because they operation is more like a fast food restaurant instead of a sit down restaurant.

The broad proposal being discussed is aimed at addressing those establishments that are bad actors, but it will unfortunately ensnare establishments that create an environment that supports living wage tipped positions by undermining their business model.

It makes no sense to make changes that will result in major cost shifts in a short period of time for those businesses that we know meet and exceed the state's minimum wage due to their payroll filings.

The state needs to stop letting bad businesses undermine good businesses and policies.

Mechanisms currently exist to force those businesses abusing the tipped wage system to stop, and those that consistently report their tipped staff earn the minimum wage or more on average should be allowed to continue using the current tipped wage credit.

There are ways to ensure tipped workers earn a living wage within the existing system, and we need to work with this business sector to enhance pay and worker protections while being sensitive to their business model.

Bringing common sense to this issue will ensure the viability of restaurants in parts of our state that are economically depressed or depend on tourism and good weather for business.

The jobs these establishments provide fill the need of many working families for extra money as a second job, offer flexible hours for those raising children or caring for other relatives and for students trying to pay for college.

In the North Country, our restaurants sometimes provide one of the few employment opportunities available in communities after retail or seasonal attractions close at the end of the tourism season.

I urge the state to craft a more thoughtful approach to curb the abuse of the tipped wage credit and to work with the industry to create reasonable wage targets in line with the minimum wage scheduled increases that, if met, would entitle a business to continue use of the tip credit.

Assemblywoman Jenne co-sponsors legislation preventing gas zone pricing

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced that legislation (A.979). she co-sponsored to prohibit zone pricing of gasoline passed the Assembly

The bill aims to ensure fairness in pricing for motorists and prevent markups on gas based on location.

“While gas prices fluctuate due to a number of factors, no one should be forced to pay
extortionate amounts of money to fuel their vehicle simply because of where they live,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"This is critically important in areas like the North Country, where many of our residents need to travel long distances to reach their place of employment. "Five or 10 cent differentials in gas prices quickly add up to be a significant cost," she pointed out.

The rural nature of the North Country, she said, can make the situation even more difficult since there are limited options and frequently long distances between gas stations.

"This legislation stands up for customers and helps protect hard-earned money,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The assemblywoman, who has been a longtime proponent for the legislation, has continuously pushed to prevent zone pricing. This year’s bill would strengthen current law and allow the state Office of the Attorney General to more easily address price gouging.

Fred Thiele Jr., the bill's sponsor, said the bill was introduced following consultation with the Attorney General's Office.

"The bill outlaws pricing gasoline solely on the basis of geographic location of the retail station," Assemblyman Thiele said.

"The legislature passed a zone pricing law about 10 years ago, but the Attorney General's Office has never been able to enforce the bill as it is currently written. The Attorney General made a recommendation to the legislature with language to make it enforceable," he added.

The assemblyman said the new bill language defines geographic market as an area supplied by the same terminal. The legislation also allows retailers injured by zone pricing to bring actions against wholselsalers engaging in the practice.

"With gas prices back on the rise again, it is important to have this legislation in place to protect consumers in the North Country and around the state of New York," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said the bill does permit consideration of price differences based on actual costs, including labor and transportation expenses.

The assemblywoman noted regular gas prices on Tuesday ranged from $2.72 to $2.84 per gallon in Watertown, $2.86 to $2.95 per gallon in Ogdensburg and $2.83 to $2.86 per gallon in Massena and $2.87 to $2.89 per gallon in the Canton-Potsdam area, according to GasBuddy.com.

The website reported the average price for regular gasoline Tuesday was $2.88 per gallon in New York State.

Assemblywoman Jenne: Resolution calls for April to be declared Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in New York

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced that the Assembly passed a resolution she introduced calling on the governor to declare April Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month in the state.

Assemblywoman Jenne also thanked members of Parkinson's Disease support groups around the state for their advocacy on behalf of those battling the affliction as well as their families.

"There are many people in our communities that are living with Parkinson's Disease. Like the group here with us today, Hope Soars, an advocacy group from the Albany area, there are many organizations throughout the state providing support and information to those suffering from Parkinson's Disease and their families," Assemblywoman Jenne said during remarks on the floor of the New York State Assembly.

"Their support and awareness building and work to try to move the ball forward in terms of research and a cure are very important to our future," she pointed out.

"We certainly want to raise awareness about this disease and let people know there is help available for those struggling families, struggling with this diagnosis," Assemblywoman Jenne added.

She said the disease affects the lives of many residents of St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties and around our entire state, with an estimated 42,000 people living with the disease throughout New York.

She said there are Parkinson's Disease support groups in the North Country, including ones based in Potsdam and Watertown.

"I had a chance to meet with leaders from the Potsdam group last year, and it was clear they were working diligently to increase awareness and offer support to those diagnosed with the disease," Assemblywoman Jenne said

She pointed out over 1 million Americans have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and a new diagnosis is made every 9 minutes in the United States alone.

Parkinson's Disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor problems including slowness of movement, rigidity and tremor.

Balance and gait problems may occur later in the course of illness. Common non-motor symptoms of PD include sleep problems, constipation, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. There currently is no cure.

Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month helps put a spotlight on the debilitating disease to help find better ways to prevent and detect the progressive neurological condition, providing effective care for the disease, and ultimately finding a cure.

Assemblywoman Jenne has sponsored this resolution each year since 2012.

For the third year, she welcomed members of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) to Albany to be introduced on the floor of the Assembly and to be present for the passage of the resolution.

For more than 55 years, APDA has led the charge as the nation’s largest grassroots organization serving the needs of those touched by Parkinson’s by providing the support, education and research to help people impacted by Parkinson’s live life to the fullest.

“The work APDA is doing and the support they are providing for the Parkinson’s community in New York State and beyond is critical and I am thrilled to partner with them to bring much-needed attention to this disease,” Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

About the American Parkinson Disease Association: The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is the largest grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease (PD) and works tirelessly to assist the more than 1 million Americans with PD live life to the fullest in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder.

Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $170 million to provide outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevate public awareness about the disease, and support research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and ultimately put an end to this disease.

To learn more about the support APDA provides nationally through its network of chapters and information and referral (I&R) centers, as well as its national research program and Centers for Advanced Research, please visit www.apdaparkinson.org
IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (front row, second from left) poses for a photograph with representatives from the American Parkinson Disease Association at the state capitol. The state Assembly passed a resolution sponsored by Assemblywoman Jenne calling for April to be declared Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. Pictured (l-r) are Art Kilmer, Heather Kilmer, Cliff Hall, Assemblywoman Jenne, Mark Burek, Tom Stephany and Nick Scolaro. They are members of Hope Soars, an organization in the Albany area founded by Mr. Burek to help people living with Parkinson’s Disease.

BOTTOM PHOTOS:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne greets members of Hope Soars, an advocacy group for those dealing with Parkinson's Disease, on the floor of the New York State Assembly.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Mark Burek (l), founder of Hope Soars, and Cliff Hall (center) prior to the state Assembly passing a resolution asking the governor to declare April Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in New York State.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne and Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman D-Queens) chat with members of Hope Soars, an advocacy group for those dealing with Parkinson's Disease.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Gerald "Babe" LePage and Rick Geiser, members of the Parkinson's Disease support in Potsdam, at an event last year at the Massena Arena.

Assemblywoman Jenne helps pass reforms to make voting more accessible, end corporate campaign contribution loophole

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced she helped pass a series of election reform bills to increase voter turnout and modernize the voting process as well as limit the influence of wealthy special interests by closing the limited liability corporation (LLC) loophole.

“New Yorkers lead busy lives. For many, work and family obligations make it difficult to get to the polls. Early voting allows these residents to participate in the democratic process, ensuring that state government truly reflects the interests of the people, especially in rural parts of the state,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The bill establishes early voting during a seven-day period before any general, primary or special election in New York State (A.9608-B).

During the early voting period, polling locations would be required to be open for eight hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends and holidays, offering evening hours on at least two days.

County boards of elections would have the option of providing additional early voting hours and would be required to publicize the location, dates and hours of all early voting polling places within each county to voters.

Assemblywoman Jenne noted the state has committed $7 million to help local governments with implementation to avoid an unfunded mandate.

New York State is one of only 13 states without early voting and ranked 42nd in voter turnout in the 2016 general election.

By instituting an early voting period, New York can begin to remedy its low turnout and ensure legislators are representative of the people, Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

The St. Lawrence County Board of Elections reported 68 percent of its registered voters cast ballots in 2016, a presidential election year. Jefferson County had a 69 percent turnout rate that year, county Board of Elections said.

But voter participation dropped significantly in November 2017 when only local races were on the ballot. Many of the candidates on the ballot were unopposed.

The turnout rates in 2017 were 33 percent in Jefferson County and 40 percent in St. Lawrence County

Assemblywoman Jenne also helped pass the Voter Enfranchisement Modernization Act of 2018, which establishes online voter registration in New York State (A.5382-A). This will streamline the registration process and bring the state’s paper-based application process into the 21st century.

To increase access to mail-in ballots at home, the legislative package includes a bill that would amend the state Constitution to allow any citizen to receive an absentee ballot upon request (A.7623).

Under current law, residents can only receive absentee ballots if they expect to be absent from the county on the day of the election, or if they have an illness or physical disability. The amendment must be passed by both the Assembly and Senate in consecutive terms before it goes before voters as a ballot referendum.

“We should be doing everything we can to help more New Yorkers exercise their right to vote. By instituting no-excuse absentee ballots, we can ensure that those who may have a tough time getting to the polls can still participate in our democracy,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Another bill would extend the $5,000 aggregate contribution limit, already applicable to corporations, to include LLCs (A.9758-A). It would also require LLCs to disclose the names of individuals with membership interests, attributing LLC contributions to them.

“One person, one vote is the founding principle of our democracy,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

“But the huge amount of special interest money flowing into our elections threatens that foundation. Closing the LLC loophole will help us increase transparency and ensure that the wealthy few aren’t able to sidestep campaign contribution limits,” she added.

Currently, individuals and corporations can make unlimited contributions to the same candidate, political party or campaign committee by creating new LLCs for each contribution. Each LLC is treated as an individual donor, even if multiple LLCs are owned by the same person or entity, making it harder to determine the real contributor.

Assemblywoman Jenne supported both of these election reform measures last year. She also recently helped pass the Democracy Protection Act, which would increase transparency and integrity in New York’s electoral process by requiring that all political communications, including internet and digital, disclose the organization or individual paying for the communication (A.9930).

State Assembly honors Clarkson women's hockey team for winning back-to-back national championships

The New York State Assembly passed a resolution this week, sponsored by Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, honoring the Clarkson's University women's hockey team for winning the NCAA Division I championship last month in Minnesota.

Representatives from the team were scheduled to be in Albany this week to be recognized by both the state Assembly and the state Senate, but the trip was cancelled due to concerns about traveling conditions.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the Clarkson women's team members serve as great ambassadors for the North Country and the state of New York.

"The Clarkson women have been crowned the national champions in three of the past five years and that is a tremendous feat  given the parity in college sports," she noted.

"It is a credit to the players and their work ethic, the coaches for recruiting talented players and helping those young women improve their game when they are putting on the green and gold sweaters and the university for providing the team with the resources necessary to compete against much larger colleges and universities across the country," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"It is equally important that the Clarkson women's hockey team players bring that same work ethic to the classroom, where the team grade point average is 3.2 on a scale of 4," the assemblywoman pointed out.

"The Clarkson hockey players, with their success on and off the ice, are great role models for youth hockey players in the North Country," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The Clarkson hockey team shared the stage during a recent celebration honoring the team at the Cheel Arena with players from St. Lawrence County-based girls' hockey teams that represented New York State in national tournaments earlier this month.

The resolution, carried in the state Senate by Sen. Joe Griffo (R-Rome), said the hallmarks of the Golden Knights women's hockey team were a sisterhood of athletic ability, good sportsmanship, honor and scholarship from the opening game of the season to Elizabeth Giguere's game winner in overtime in the national championship game demonstrated these players were second to none.

The resolution also praised the coaches and staff for their work.

"The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great part to the efforts of Coach Matt Desrosiers, Assistant Coaches Britni Smith and Tony Maci, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Tad Johnson, skilled and inspirational tutors, respected for their ability to develop potential into excellence," it reads. "Coach Desrosiers and his dedicated staff have done a superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team members toward their goals."

Clarkson scored 7:55 into overtime to earn a 2-1 victory over Colgate in the NCAA Division 1 Women's Frozen Four championship game on March 18 at at the University of Minnesota’s Ridder Arena.

Freshman forward Giguere's unassisted breakaway goal to win the national title was selected as ESPN SportsCenter's top play of the day.

Clarkson became the first hockey team to win all of its NCAA tournament games in overtime. The Golden Knights opened the NCAA tournament with a 2-1 overtime victory against Mercyhurst and then advanced to the championship game by shutting out Ohio State University 1-0 in the semifinal matchup.

The Golden Knights are the only Eastern team to win Division 1 women's hockey national championships, and Clarkson became just the fourth women's hockey team to win three or more national championships. They join Minnesota, Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Clarkson senior goalie Shea Tiley was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by senior defenseman Savannah Harmon, junior forward Loren Gabel and freshman forward Elizabeth Giguere.

Tiley, Harmon and Gabel were also first-team All-Americans and top 10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award given to the national player of the year with Gabel being a Top Three finalist. Giguere was named a second-team All-American.

Clarkson had also blanked Colgate 3-0 to earn the ECAC tournament championship after advancing to the title game with a 4-2 victory over St. Lawrence University in the semifinal.

"Colgate and Clarkson facing off in the national tournament title game, and the success of St. Lawrence University and Cornell during the regular season is a reminder of the high quality of women's college hockey in upstate New York," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Members of the team:

Seniors: Captain Savannah Harmon, Assistant Captain Lauren Lefler, Assistant Captain Amanda Titus, Assistant Captain Shea Tiley and Katelyn Fournier.

Juniors: Assistant Captain Cassidy Vinkle, Loren Gabel, Emma Keenan, Rhyen McGill, Josiane Pozzebon and Kathy Mariani.

Sophomores: Michaela Pejzlova, Ella Shelton, Taylor Turnquist, Jenna Brenneman and Katherine Beaumier.

Freshman: Elizabeth Giguere, Avery Mitchell, Michaela Boyle, Meaghan Hector, Kristy Pidgeon, Tia Stoddard and Kia Castonguay.

Coach: Matt Desrosiers
Assistant Coaches: Britni Smith, Tony Maci
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tad Johnson
Equipment Manager: George Frank
Trainer: Alana Alpert
Video Manager: Bryan Warner
Director of Athletics & Recreation: Steve Yianoukos
Associate Athletic Director: Scott Smalling
Associate Athletic Director: Laurel Kane
Sports Information Director: Gary Mikel

Assemblywoman Jenne fights for wage fairness for all workers

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced that she helped pass legislation to help ensure women earn equal pay for equal work in New York State.

The package includes a resolution recognizing April 10 as Equal Pay Day, which represents how far into the year women must work to earn the same amount their male counterparts made the previous year

“Shortchanging women cheats our families, and we can’t let New York women be held back by discrimination,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

“The gender pay gap robs hardworking North Country
families of the money they’ve rightfully earned and it hurts our economy,” she added.

Nationally, women earn 80 cents on average for every dollar a man does. It drops to 63 cents and 54 cents for African-American and Hispanic women, respectively.

While New York is the closest to closing the pay gap, women here still only make 89 cents for every dollar a man makes.

To combat discriminatory wage practices, the Assembly’s legislation includes the New York State Fair Pay Act to enforce pay equity, including broadening equal pay protections to
include equivalent jobs and ensuring that traditional female and minority jobs are not undervalued (A.4696).

Another bill in the package prohibits employers from requesting,
requiring or seeking wage or salary history from current or prospective as a condition for employment or promotion (A.2040-C).

Salary history questions have been used as an excuse to
pay women less than they deserve for far too long, Assemblywoman Jenne said, noting the lower starting wage follows that workers throughout their career.

In addition, the legislation includes a measure to implement a state policy to ensure wage equality for state and municipal employees (A.658).

These bills will help ensure that gender, race and national origin do not impact compensation, according to Assemblywoman Jenne.

She also helped pass a measure to ensure the state complies with the federal Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and gives public employees a private right of
action to sue for compensation and enforce equal pay disparities (A.2425).

“Whether you’re a man or a woman, equal work deserves equal pay, and this package delivers on that truth,” Assemblywoman Jenne said, noting the legislation offers exceptions for merit and seniority.

“If you put in the same work with the same skills, you deserve the same paycheck. North Country families know what it means to work hard, and I’m fighting to make sure they get what they’ve earned,” she added.

Assemblywoman Jenne: Maritime forums set stage for next steps

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, said last week's forum on growing the maritime-relate economy in the North Country set the stage for further discussion and actions.

"I was pleased with the turnout. There was a lot of good discussion. Despite the diversity of the businesses represented at the forum, there were common themes that we can focus on to help our economy moving forward. I wanted to hear from local business leaders so I can support their efforts to grow, to fight for specific resources for our region and to look strategically at infrastructure needs so we can up our game," she said.

She said a second forum will be held on May 11 with leaders from SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx on hand to discuss their academic program, which provides training for employment in the global maritime industry.

Assemblywoman Jenne has spent the last several months exploring steps that can be taken to rebuild the maritime economy, including infrastructure funding and education and training programs.

That effort has included talking to local school and college officials about steps that can be taken in the region to provide training for employment in the maritime-related sector of the economy..

She said her goal is to work with local community leaders to implement practical and common-sense programs to train the workforce with the necessary skills needed to grow the region's river and lake communities.

"We have everything we need right here, except the training many residents want and need to build their professional skills and reputation in maritime trades and related businesses," she said.

"By strengthening the workforce, we can bring businesses back to these communities for the quality and experience you can only get in the St. Lawrence River Valley and Great Lakes," Assemblywoman Jenne added.

She led a delegation of educational leaders from around the North Country on a visit to SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx late last year.

Assemblywoman Jenne and representatives from SUNY Canton, Jefferson Community College and Jefferson-Lewis BOCES met with SUNY Maritime College administrators and toured the campus.

SUNY Maritime Provost Dr. Joseph Hoffman previously served as the interim president of SUNY Canton. She noted he has been a great resource during discussions about steps that can be taken to increase interest in training for jobs in the maritime industry.

More than half of the pilots on the St. Lawrence River, for example, are graduates of SUNY Maritime College.

Dr. Hoffman, who also serves as vice president for Academic Affairs, has said he sees opportunities for working with local officials to develop career paths in the maritime industry in the region.

The community forum will provide Dr. Hoffman with an opportunity to showcase the academic opportunities available at SUNY Maritime College, as well as continue working with SUNY Canton, Jefferson Community College, BOCES and local high schools.

"We know our region is filled with students that love being on the water in the North Country. We want to expose them to opportunities that would allow them to train for jobs related to their love for the water," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said the need for additional training skills was one of the issues that surfaced at last week's forum in Alexandria Bay, which attracted elected officials from Sackets Harbor to Waddington and business leaders, education officials and local residents working on the river from St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.

The conversation ranged from a concern that many mechanics working on boats along the St. Lawrence River are reaching retirement age to the need for additional training for employees working in the hospitality- and tourism- industries in the region.

Entrepreneurs talked about opportunities for growing the diving industry in the region as well as steps that have been taken to address an interest in water taxi service in the region.

"The first year we lost our shirt, but it is growing,. We do tailor-made trips. It's growing. I had three runs on Easter Day," DL Withington said of his water taxi service.

Marine business owners talked about the challenges of employee retention since most of their work is seasonal. Several owners said they had worked to keep some of their mechanics on their payroll year-round.

"It took me 30 years to figure out how to do that," one business owner noted.

The forum also provided an opportunity to discuss expanding the so-called shoulder seasons outside the traditional Memorial Day to Labor Day season in the Thousand Islands region.

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing," a local business leader said.

A number of businesses in the Thousand Islands close after the Labor Day weekend, and business owners that stay open year-round say that impacts the ability to attract tourists to the region in the early fall and late spring.

Community leaders said planning events outside the traditional summer season has also brought people to their community.

Sackets Harbor Mayor Molly Reilly said a Whoville in the Harbor event held over two weekends in December in her community was a major success.

"You've got to give people a reason to come to your communities. We had thousands and thousands of people come to Sackets over those two weekends. Our downtown businesses said they were their busiest weekends of the year," she said.

Attendees said the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton has been a game changer for expanding the tourism season in that community.

Cheryl Mayforth, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board in Jefferson County, stressed the importance of businesses collaborating and supporting each other.

"Barriers often get put up when new businesses move into the area. When somebody new comes in, we don't want them to infringe on us. We don't want them to succeed," she said, suggesting this sentiment was holding the region back.

But she inferred those new businesses could actually improve the climate and attract more shoppers to the region.

"We need to rally around our newer businesses. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies," Ms. Mayforth said.

Assemblywoman Jenne has also worked with her colleagues in state government to get a financial support package for local governments, businesses and homeowners impacted by the past year's flooding on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with DeWitt Withington, vice president (L), and John Boyce (center), president, of the St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots Association, at a forum on growing the maritime-related economy in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties and providing the workplace training necessary for employment opportunities in the field.

BOTTOM PHOTOS:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne chats with Elliott Hillback, co-chair of the Indian River Lakes Conservancy, prior to a recent forum on growing the maritime-related economy along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne has been brainstorming with college officials from around the North Country about increasing opportunities for students interested in employment in the maritime-related economy in the North Country. Those conversations continued after a recent forum on the issue with Dr. Terrance Harris (l), associate vice president and dean of Continuing Education, and Kathleen Morris (r), director of Continuing Education, at Jefferson Community College. The assemblywoman has also been talking about the issue with representatives from SUNY Maritime and SUNY Canton.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne checks with Jefferson County Legislator Phil Reed prior to a recent forum she hosted in Alexandria Bay on steps needed to grow the maritime-related sector of the economy in the North Country.

Assemblywoman Jenne congratulates SCOPE chapter essay contest winners

I was asked to present the awards to the Jefferson Lewis Counties Chapter of SCOPE essay contest winners Friday night. Thanks to the SCOPE chapter for focusing this effort on our youth and shining the spotlight on students at our local schools participating in the the New York State High School Clay Target League.

It's important to expose North Country youth to firearms in a safe and supervised way, to teach them proper handling and safety. The SCOPE chapter members are clearly focused on that society.

Students on clay target teams in the region were asked to write essays about what the Second Amendment means to them. It's important for our students - for all of us - to learn about our Constitution and be able to determine what it means. this was a great venue for these students to express their views on the Second Amendment.

The simple process of doing their research for this essay contest was valuable and will likely result in them having respect for others that go through the same process, even if they come up with a different perspective.

One of our biggest obstacles in our country is not being able to have people with differing views disagree in a respectful manner. Thanks to the local SCOPE chapter for doing their part to help the next generation be prepared for thoughtful and respectful public discourse.

The students and SCOPE members also had to an opportunity to hear Chuck Ruggerio, a criminal justice professor at Jefferson Community College, talk about the history of the development of the Bill of Rights and ended in a similar note that we must all find common ground through differing views.

It's clear Bruce Kingsley, chair of the local SCOPE chapter, thinks investing in providing our young people with a proper and organized exposure to firearms is important to our society.

It is obvious I have some differences of opinion with SCOPE on some policy issues, but I know we find common ground when we talk about encouraging our young people with an interest in hunting and shooting sports to learn about firearms and gun safety. I hope we can also agree that it is important to have a respectful discourse as we discuss school and community safety issues in our state and nation.

IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne speaks Friday night at the awards ceremony for an essay contest sponsored by the Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE. Members of the the high school clay target teams from the two counties were invited to write essays on the topic, "What the Second Amendment Means to Me." Monetary awards were given to the writers of the essays that were selected for first, second and third places. Those writers' teams also received a donation from the Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE.

BOTTOM PHOTOS:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne congratulates Carthage High School student Monica Reed for taking top honors in the Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE essay writing contest. She took home a $100 prize and earned a $1,000 donation for her school's trap shooting team.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (foreground) and Watertown City Council member Lisa Ruggerio visit with C. Bruce Kingsley, chair of the Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE, Friday night at the awards ceremony for an essay contest opened up to members of high school clay target teams in the region.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne talks with Joseph Lamendola Friday night at a Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE events at the Dulles State Office Building in Watertown.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne congratulates South Jefferson Central School students Nicolas Luciani, and Austin Papazian for winning the second prize of $75 in the Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE essay writing contest. Their essay also earned their school's clay target team a $750 donation.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne congratulates South Jefferson Central School students Nicolas Luciani, and Austin Papazian for winning the second prize of $75 in the Jefferson-Lewis Counties chapter of SCOPE essay writing contest. Their essay also earned their school's clay target team a $750 donation.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Brian Clark, coach of Carthage's clay target team. Mr. Clark, who describes himself as an avid shooting sports participant, led the effort to get approval for the team to participate in the the New York State High School Clay Target League.

 

Assemblywoman Jenne: North Country Department Store postponed due to weather advisory

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne announced the North Country Department Store event scheduled for Saturday at SUNY Canton is being cancelled in light of weather forecasts calling for snow, sleet and freezing rain.

"It's a tough call. We have seen a number of differing forecasts, but we have been in contact with a lot of our vendors, and they have shared their concerns about the forecast with us," she said.

"We don't want to have our vendors set up tonight and then wake up to weather conditions that would impact the success of the show and put our vendors and show visitors on roadways in less than ideal conditions," she added.

Assemblywoman Jenne said a decision on whether to reschedule will be made in the near future.

Assemblywoman Jenne hosting North Country Department Store Saturday at SUNY Canton

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne says approximately 50 vendors have signed up to display their wares at the North Country Department Store she is hosting Saturday at SUNY Canton.

This year's event, which is taking on a different look from her past Rediscovering Your Backyard spring events, features vendors from Massena to Watertown with representation from communities around St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.

"The North Country has a wealth of local artisans, gift shops, foods, antiques and crafts people of all types. The North Country Department Store concept, which we also host late each fall in Jefferson County, provides an opportunity to put all of these small and home business people under one roof," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"It's good to be reminded of the diversity of local businesses right here in our backyard. Our history, culture and shared values have instilled a passion for quality, entrepreneurship and authenticity in North Country residents. That creativity and quality workmanship will be on display Saturday. This event is designed to empower residents and visitors to support that tradition," she noted.

This year's department store will feature several vendors that have been part of the Rediscovering Your Backyard event each spring for several years, but Assemblywoman Jenne said she is excited to check out a number of vendors that will be making their first appearance at the spring show.

This year's event features a little bit of everything - from vendors that offer horse carriage rides and health and wellness products to equestrian lessons and boarding, from a traveling cigar bar and lounge to photobooth services and from golfball suncatchers and pottery to hope chests, handmade crafts and raised feeding stations.

The show, as it has in the past, will also feature a number of vendors selling clothing, home decor, jewelry and artwork.

There will also be several vendors selling local food products - ranging from cookies, fudge and gluten free baked goods to herbs, local and specialty foods, jams and jellies and maple syrup products.

This year's show will be held from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday at the SUNY Canton Roos House. Proceeds from the event benefit the SUNY Canton athletic teams, who will be assisting vendors at the show.

IN THE PHOTO:

Artist Steven C. Cobb of Massena is one of several vendors making their first appearance at the North Country Department Store Saturday at SUNY Canton's Roos House. Mr. Cobb will have artwotk, sculptures and home decor items available at his booth. The shows runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Assemblywoman Jenne: $40 million for flood relief in budget

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, says this week's strong winds that led to high waves was further proof of the need for the additional $40 million for flood relief for communities on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River included in the 2018-19 state budget she helped pass last week.

The allocation in the budget brings the total state assistance to $95 million for the flood relief act.

“I’ve witnessed the impacts of flooding firsthand and know that our economy and tourism industry were struggling, but I also saw the true spirit of the North Country when I was filling sandbags last summer with volunteers and members of the National Guard,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

“We may have been knocked down, but the North Country is resilient, and I’ll always be a strong, loud voice to ensure our families and businesses get what they need and deserve,” she added.

The St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario experienced flooding starting last spring and summer, severely impacting homes and businesses along the lake and river.

In addition to physical damage, Assemblywoman Jenne said she is concerned drops in tourism in the region last summer could be felt for years to come as these communities rebuild.

"It's important to get the message out to those tourists that have an affinity for the Thousand Islands and North Country that our waterfront businesses are ready to welcome them back to the region this summer," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She co-sponsored legislation in the state Assembly - a bill sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle - to create the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Relief and Recovery Grant Program to provide grants to small businesses, farms, homeowners and municipalities for storm-related repairs and rebuilding efforts.

For impacted homeowners, legislation enacted last summer increased the maximum award from $40,000 to $50,000 and expanded eligibility to include all primary homeowners, as well as non-primary homeowners with income up to $275,000.

Program assistance reimburses homeowners for eligible losses, including repairs to and restoration of structures, equipment, and other physical damage. The program is being administered through not-for profit housing organizations seeking to help homeowners affected by the flooding.

Small businesses, farms, homeowner associations, and not-for-profit organizations that sustained direct physical flood-related damage are eligible to receive up to $50,000 under this program, while owners of multiple dwellings are eligible to receive up to $20,000. 

Program assistance are calculated at 50 percent of eligible loss, compensating eligible entities for repairs to and restoration of structures, equipment, and other physical damage and declines in revenue in excess of 15 percent as a result of closures or reduced business. The program is being administered by Empire State Development.

Counties, cities, towns, villages and special districts that sustained direct physical flood-related damage are also eligible to receive up to $1,000,000 for repairs to and restoration of municipal infrastructure and systems and up to $500,000 for flood mitigation, construction of resiliency measures, or flood control projects. This program is being administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

Assemblywoman Jenne said negotiations with the executive branch had led to an initial $45 million allocation in July. But she said the governor has repeatedly pledged all eligible applicants will receive relief for direct physical damages related to the historic Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River flooding and his support for the additional funding over the past several months if proof that he is living up to that commitment.

She said she stopped in Alexandria Bay on Thursday to check on the water levels. "The docks were about 2 feet above the water. That's a far cry from last spring when those same docks were underwater. I'm hoping this is a positive sign for the weeks and months to come," the assemblywoman pointed out.

Assemblywoman Jenne plans community forum focused on growing maritime opportunities in the region

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, is hosting a community forum on April 11 in Alexandria Bay to discuss steps that can be taken to enhance the maritime, hospitality and tourism industries in the North Country.

She noted the rivers and lakes in the North Country are already major economic drivers in the region, but she’s looking for ideas from local businesses and residents for efforts to help strengthen the maritime, hospitality and tourism sectors.

Assemblywoman Jenne pointed out she has had discussions with a number of officials and business people in the River District and traveled to the SUNY Maritime campus in the Bronx to gain a better understanding of the opportunities waterways like the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario offer to create new jobs in the region.

"We have tremendous natural assets that can drive our regional economy. I think there are opportunities for growth, and I want to make sure that our businesses and residents have the support they need to grow and succeed," she said.

"The flooding last year and the challenging economic conditions over the past several years have made growth challenging. I'm interested in hearing ideas and finding common-senseolutions to expand our economy," according to the assemblywoman.

Assemblywoman Jenne said one of the leading issues raised by North Country businesses has been the need for greater workforce development.

"I’m particularly interested in hearing thoughts about workforce development training programs best suited to meet the needs of employers in the region as well as skills that could attract new maritime-related businesses to the North Country," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said she is hopeful the forum will includelocal government officials, chambers of commerce representatives, business leaders and community residents. She said she is also hopeful students from area schools will offer their input.

The assemblywoman said the discussion could also include issues related to climate, the environment and health and wellness, which are also connected to the river economy.

"I'm hopeful we will also be able to discuss investments we need to make in our communities to support existing businesses and attract new business activity," she said.

Assemblywoman Jenne said flooding on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River last spring and summer underscored the need for infrastructure improvements in the region.

"As we adapt to the new water management plan, it’s the right time to rebuild in a manner that envisions growth and new opportunities," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"I'm eager to gain additional insight on steps we can take to reinvigorate our economy through capital investment with a focus on extending economic activity throughout more of the year," she added.

The forum will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 11 at the Bonnie Castle Resort in Alexandria Bay.