New York’s tourism industry is alive and showing signs of growth. According to a recent study of the state’s tourism industry, it is estimated that 239 million visitors traveled to New York State in 2016. These visitors had an estimated economic...

New York has a long history of helping those who are blind live independently.  For more than 100 years, the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) has assisted people in achieving their personal and vocational goals.  The commission was...

I am often invited to speak to school-aged kids and during these visits a common question kids have for me is what does it means to be a good citizen. The question itself is inspiring because it means they are searching for ways to be good citizens....

Upstate New York has some of the best hunting, trapping and fishing in the country with thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and millions of acres of forest and open space that are rich in wildlife. Those who venture out to hunt and fish tend to...

Unemployment rates are often viewed as an indicator of how the economy is doing. While these rates provide valuable insight on economic activity, because of how the unemployment rates are calculated, they should not be the sole assessment in determining...

Agricultural tourism is a growing component within New York's $6.36 billion agriculture industry. More and more farms are inviting the public to have a firsthand experience on the farm and hosting farm tours where visitors can learn about farm operations....

A few years ago I had the opportunity to chair the Assembly Minority Hunting and Fishing Task Force. During that time, the task force held forums and listened to outdoor enthusiasts throughout the state. A primary objective of the task force was to examine...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) today reminded children who are participating in this year’s Assembly Summer Reading Challenge to send in their completed challenge forms. Students who read at least 15 minutes per day for 40 days between...

The Great New York State Fair will once again kick off on Aug. 23 and run until Monday, Sept. 4. Last year, more than 1 million people attended the fair which features animal exhibits, concerts, horse shows, the famous butter sculpture, history, youth...

Individuals with disabilities and their family members now have a new way to save and plan for future expenses. New Yorkers can now open a tax-deferred 529 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account. The accounts are a savings option for families...

“I am glad the Village of Phoenix was awarded this grant and the zero-interest financing to help facilitate improvements to public water projects. This state funding will help reduce the costs of this project and keep the Village of Phoenix moving...

Sen. Patty Ritchie (R—Oswegatchie) and Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref—Pulasi) will host an informational meeting together with Neighbors of Watertown on the Lake Ontario Flood Recovery Program Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Mexico...

The craft beverage industry is among the fastest-growing industries in New York with nearly 900 licensed manufacturers in the state. Part of this growth has to do with the state’s focus in recent years on trying to make it easier for craft beverage...

A home is one of the biggest investments a family can make and with homeownership, repair projects are inevitable. In some cases, homeowners can perform the work that needs to be done but in other cases, hiring a contractor is necessary. Unfortunately,...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) announced today that the Baldwinsville, Fulton and Mexico public libraries have been awarded funding as part of the $19 million in capital funds for public library construction provided in the 2017 State Budget....

With the warm weather here, local highway crews are out working on road repairs and construction projects. There are approximately 114,000 centerline miles of highway in the state and local governments are responsible for the maintenance of nearly 85%...

“This is great news for Oswego Health and for the entire county. I was happy to work with Oswego Health and to advocate on their behalf to receive this funding from the New York State Department of Health. Improving access to behavioral health services...

Pursuant to our State’s Constitution, every twenty years a referendum is required to be placed on the ballot asking New York State voters whether New York should convene a constitutional convention for the purposes of amending our State Constitution....

“Like most residents in the area, I am concerned about the closure of Michaud Nursing Home. While I was aware that Michaud was experiencing financial challenges, prior to Wednesday’s announcement I had not been informed of the planned closure. Accordingly,...

We are fortunate in this area to have access to so much homegrown produce—from maple syrup to onions, to fresh peaches and sweet corn. This time of year there are many opportunities to take advantage of the local harvests at farmer’s markets. Fresh...