Fifty years - The Evening Sun

1
PR GRESS
SECTION
CHENANGO
The Annual Comprehensive Picture Of Our Business World’s New Ventures, Ideas & Growth In Chenango County.
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN, NORWICH, N.Y. • JANUARY 2009
Reaching
new heights
PHOTO
BY
FRANK SPEZIALE
COMMERCE CHENANGO
Fifty years and still going strong
BY MELISSA STAGNARO
The Evening Sun
T
his year marks the
golden anniversary of
Chenango County’s
premier business organization, Commerce Chenango.
Begun originally as the Norwich
Chamber of Commerce, the entity
was incorporated as the Chenango
County Chamber of Commerce in
1959. In broadening its scope, it
became the first county chamber in
New York State.
Despite the passing decades, and
a new name, the organization
remains true to its original mission:
to promote, encourage and attract
business and industry in and around
Chenango County.
“Today, we are dedicated to
enhancing the quality and strength
of our community,” said Commerce
Chenango President and CEO Maureen Carpenter.
Carpenter is eager to not only discuss her organization’s accomplishments from 2008, but also plans to
grow and improve the chamber as it
moves into the future.
The past year has seen the chamber take an active role in legislative
actions on the local, state and federal levels, said Carpenter. Locally,
this work has included support of
the Friends of the Park initiative as
well as encouraging the exploration
of shared services opportunities.
On the state level, the business
organization spoke out against a bill
mandating minimum wage increas-
es while supporting the Bridge
Reform Act, which Carpenter
explained would continue to provide funding for bridge and highway improvements. Additional support was provided for bills that
would assist businesses on the federal level, she added.
2008 also saw the consolidation
of the Chenango County Area Corporation, formed in 1966 to lead
economic development and job
growth, and the Greater Norwich
Local Development Corporation
into one entity. As of Nov. 3, the
newly combined agency began
working as one under the name
“Development Chenango.”
Commerce Chenango will continue to handle the administration of
both Development Chenango and
the Chenango County Industrial
Development Agency.
Key successes for the past year in
economic and industrial development have included a multi-million
dollar bond initiative for new production equipment at Mid-York
Press in Sherburne and recruiting
Music Square to Chenango County.
Carpenter said she sees the Wagner Ninevah Lumber Company as
one of the year’s biggest successes.
The IDA was influential in assisting
with the transfer of ownership
which kept the struggling lumber
mill outside of Afton in operation.
“They’ve exceeded their job estimation,” reported Carpenter, as well
as vastly improving worker conditions at the facility.
Other projects have included
hosting two microenterprise classes
for prospective entrepreneurs, and
assisting a Norwich business, E-Sell
It, into a new downtown location.
Continuing development at the Earl
B. Clark Industrial Park, conducting
a rail usage study, and adding a
fourth area to the designated Empire
Zone are ongoing efforts.
With a number of exciting projects in the works on the Economic
Development front, including the
purchase of Lok-N-Logs and interest in P&G’s Woods Corner facility,
Carpenter is adding a new staff
member.
In December, she announced the
creation of a new Economic Development Specialist position to focus
primarily on business recruitment
and infrastructure development.
Carpenter said she hopes to have the
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PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
COMMERCE CHENANGO
Taking Chenango to new heights
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
position filled in February.
Commerce Chenango continues to work with area business and local legislators as
part of the Route 12 Taskforce. Since its formation in
2000, the taskforce has
worked toward upgrading
and improve the county’s
main transportation artery.
“We had several meetings
over the past year,” reported
Carpenter, but progress is
slow.
She is cautiously optimistic
regarding one portion of the
proposed project, which
would widen a four-mile section of the state roadway
through Greene in proximity
to the county’s largest private
employer, the Raymond Corporation. Cost estimates for
the project, however, have
risen from $16.5 million to
roughly $21 million in the
last year.
As Commerce Chenango
moves forward into 2009, its
fiftieth year, the chamber
plans to reaffirm its mission.
The organization has been
working to update its strategic plan and will be releasing
a new Program of Action.
“We are focusing on membership, community development, economic development
and tourism,” said Carpenter,
of the year ahead.
A major initiative will be a
redesign of the chamber’s
web site, which will get a
much-needed
face
lift.
Audrey Robinson, communications and marketing director for Commerce Chenango,
said the revamped site will be
easier to navigate and have a
more user-friendly business
Leadership Chenango is an important program of Commerce Chenango, developing future leaders and community
volunteers from the county’s citizenry. Pictured above is the latest class, which graduated in 2008.
directory.
“We want to be the go-to
website for information about
our county,” said Robinson.
On the membership front,
Commerce Chenango’s initiatives will be led by Membership and Events Coordinator Rachel Crandall, who
assumed control of the
department in 2007.
Crandall has been working
hard to build the organization’s membership and succeeded in adding 72 member
companies in the past year.
These new additions bring
total membership in Commerce Chenango to roughly
450 businesses.
For Crandall, part of
recruiting and retaining
members is to increase the
quantity and quality of member benefits, services and
events. She has worked
closely in the past year with
the chamber’s Advisory
Council toward that goal.
In 2008, Crandall added a
slew of new programs to the
chamber’s offerings including a notary class, customer
service seminar and a finance
workshop. She also re-established additional networking
opportunities such as quarterly luncheons and monthly
business after-hours.
She has big plans for 2009
as well. By February, she will
have
launched
a
Member2Member discount
program, Employee of the
Month recognition and a
series of legislative break-
fasts called Good Morning,
Chenango.
The organization’s dues
structure has also been overhauled based on input from
the Advisory Council. The
changes have already been
instituted with new members
and will be rolled out to existing members in March.
The chamber also offers
comprehensive health insurance benefit packages offered
through Mang Insurance.
These options have changed
as well.
“We moved to more up to
date and cost effective
options including Medicare
options,”
Carpenter
explained. There have also
been changes in the dental
plans offered.
Commerce Chenango has
always taken an active role in
developing tomorrow’s leaders. For two decades, they
have encouraged community
involvement and educated
future leaders as part of the
Leadership Chenango program.
Last year, 21 communityminded participants graduated from the program. As a
legacy, the 2007-08 Leadership Class donated $1,600
toward the creation of a
Youth Leadership program.
“The project purpose is to
link business and education,”
explained Robinson, who
plays an important role on the
Youth Leadership committee.
According to Carpenter,
the program is modeled
closely after Leadership
Chenango. It will allow tenth
and eleventh grade students
from area schools to learn
about leadership, the county,
businesses and local nonprofits.
“We want to encourage students to take leadership roles
now to prepare them for
future opportunities,” Robinson said. The committee
plans to launch the program
in the Fall of 2009.
Commerce
Chenango
marked its golden anniversary with a gala event Jan. 17
at the Canasawacta Country
Club, site of the Chamber’s
first annual dinner, exactly 50
years to the date of its incorporation.
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PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
3
S H E F F I E L D/ KE R R Y B I O S C I E N C E
A new name with a familiar ring
BY TYLER MURPHY
and color. The active part of
the pill is the chemical that
causes whatever desired
effect the medicine is
designed to do and makes up
a much smaller portion, he
said.
These small active portions
are harvested from specifically grown microorganisms,
bacteria, that will create certain types of drugs depending
on what kind of food they are
fed. That food is protein.
“Protein is used by pharmaceutical companies to create the actives in bacteria. It
helps grow the organisms
rapidly and the drug is
extracted
from
them,”
explained Ham.
The protein is specially
created in the lab to control
the growth and output of the
organisms which gives
Sheffield an effective way to
control the bio-production of
nearly any drug.
“We’ve tailored these
organisms to such a degree
that they will create whatever
drug we need and treat a wide
range of ailments such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease
and so on,” he said.
Production at the Norwich
plant mainly concerns the
creation and sale of pharmaceutical-flavored filler and
specially tailored bacteria
food.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but essentially,”
said Ham.
The director said that the
production of proteins at the
plant was “really starting up
and had risen 30 percent.”
The increase in demand has
made Sheffield take a closer
look at it manufacturing
facilities
which
have
The Evening Sun
K
erry Bio-Science’s
Norwich facility was
reinvigorated in
2008 with the renaming of
its pharmaceutical division
back to a renowned
industry name – Sheffield
Pharma Ingredients.
The noted brand name was
once used by the corporate
pharmaceutical giant Quest
International, which was
bought by the Kerry Group in
2004 and at the time the name
was phased out. However the
company
brought
the
Sheffield name back as it
began reinvesting in operations at the Woods Corners
facility.
“We’ve reintroduce the
Sheffield name back into the
market place. The name
recognition and Kerry’s continued focus on the pharmaceutical market have caused
us to soar. It has been the
most profitable year we’ve
ever had,” said Global Protein Processing Technical
Director Phil Ham.
The company excels at
making specialized food
ingredients such as inert
fillers, mainly pharmaceutical grade monohydrate lactose, and has an extensive
protein operation as well.
“To understand what we do
at Sheffield, you should
know a little about drugs –
specifically ones in a pill
form,” said Project Manager
Philip J. Szalach.
About 85 to 95 percent of
nearly all pills consist mainly
of lactose or another filler.
They add substance, flavor
Quality Assurance Technician Mishelle Duell checks one of the many manufacturing tanks at
Kerry Bio-Science in Norwich.
increased stress as a result of
the recent prosperity. “It’s not
anything we can’t handle, but
we believe in constant
improvement,” he said.
The lactose side of the
company also saw a marked
increase in demand, said Szalach.
Kerry Bio-Science remains
one of the largest suppliers of
pharmaceutical-grade lactose
in the United States. The
material is a common component used in compressed
tablets.
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couple of years, the general
trend of our lactose demand
has increased. It has its ups
and downs, but right now it’s
up,” he said.
Szalach
commended
Sheffield and Kerry’s business plans at the local facility,
saying things had been made
easier because the company
has encouraged personnel to
become specialized in a particular area of product
groups. “Before you’d be
here, then over there, a little
bit of everything. That still
can happen on occasion, but
now we are more focused,”
he said.
“We have a good solid
business that’s been here for a
long time as a company and
we’ll continue to make products that help people,” said
Szalach, who has worked in
Norwich for the last 10 years.
Kerry Bio-Science is an
Irish international company
with over ten other pharmaceutical plants located around
the world. The company is
constantly monitored by the
Federal Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and
the Department of Agricultural Markets.
The facility currently housing Sheffield has been occupied and operated by businesses for over 100 years,
beginning with dairy creamery in New York City in 1841
that moved upstate looking
for lower cost and more room
to expand operations. At the
time, it was named Sheffield
Farms and again the location
bears the namesake of its
founding business.
4
PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
CHENANGO REAL ESTATE
Definitely a buyer’s market
BY JESSICA LEWIS
the last year. “We’ve sold a
good percentage of our listings. Now we’re looking for
properties,” Beadle said. “It’s
a good problem to have, but a
bad problem too. We need to
replace those listings.” Beadle said he believes potential
sellers are reluctant due to the
perception that they won’t get
as much for their home.
“Houses are still selling,”
Beadle assured.
Mody said his business is
facing similar difficulties.
“We don’t have that much
inventory. The same signs
have been on the market for
quite awhile.”
At Peggy Parker, Kevin
Walsh said the company has
seen more houses for sale on
the market for longer periods
of time. “It’s not a bad thing,”
Gretchen Walsh said. “Buyers have more choices. It
doesn’t benefit the sellers as
much, but there are more
options.”
Kevin explained that the
prices of the homes are coming down, but it takes time.
“There’s a lag between the
reduction in the number of
houses sold and the price,”
Kevin said. “Prices need to
come down, because the
inventory is much higher.”
For
sellers,
Gretchen
explained, it is now more
important than ever to price
homes reasonably and competitively.
While many more metropolitan areas are seeing widespread foreclosures, local real
estate agents have said they
have seen relatively few in
Chenango County. “We’re
still relatively insulated in
this area,” Kevin said. “Our
The Evening Sun
D
espite the serious
issues facing the
national real estate
market, in Chenango County, the market has remained
mostly steady. In fact, area
real estate agents have said
if you’re thinking of buying
a house, there’s no better
time than now.
“This is a great time to
buy,” said Bruce Beadle,
owner of Bruce Beadle Realty. “Interest rates and prices
are low. I couldn’t think of a
better time to buy.”
Statewide, home sales have
decreased by more than 20
percent since last fall, according to the New York State
Association of Realtors, but
because of the low interest
rates, Gretchen Walsh of
Peggy Parker Realty said, it’s
in the buyer’s favor. “These
are the lowest interest rates
we’ve seen in 30 years. If you
can afford to buy, this is a
great time.”
But, for those looking to
sell a house, the current picture is not quite as positive.
“Prices
are
somewhat
depressed, but it’s not as bad
here as in most parts of the
country,” said Irmin Mody,
senior agent at Irmin Mody
Realty. “People are still concerned. Prices are down, so
they have trouble selling
what they own. They’re more
hesitant to make the investment today,” Mody said.
Mody and Beadle both said
their businesses have seen a
decrease in inventory over
According to area real estate experts, there’s never been a better time to buy a house. While
nightly news stories are focusing on the mortgage crisis, area realtors say Chenango County is
relatively insulated from the issues that are effecting more metropolitan areas right now. With
low interest rates and low prices, real estate agents say the time to buy a house is now.
area never saw the extreme
peaks and lows that they’ve
seen in the metropolitan
areas. We’re more steady.”
Mody said he believes the
reason the Chenango County
area is faring well is because
“we don’t have a lot of really
expensive homes for people
to buy who couldn’t afford to
buy them. That saved us. You
don’t have to pay $500,000
or $600,000 to get a nice
home here.”
In
addition,
Beadle
explained, despite the failing
economy, there hasn’t been
an issue with securing financing in the Chenango County
area. “If you have a decent
credit score and a few bucks,
we can get it done,” Beadle
said.
Walsh agreed. “It is more
challenging to get a mortgage. The days of 100 percent financing are gone. Most
people are going to be
required to have a down payment,” but she said, there are
many decent programs available to help potential home
buyers.
Mody said the mortgage
moneys are available. “I
haven’t seen a tightening up
on mortgages. I haven’t lost
any sales because we couldn’t get someone financed.”
The future of Chenango’s
real estate market is uncertain. A lot will depend on the
area’s job market, how federal funds are allocated and if
interest rates continue to go
down.
Mody said his business had
a pretty good year due to the
sale of a number of commercial properties. “We’re working to tie up a number of
commercial deals,” Mody
said. Although those deals
have not yet been finalized,
he was hopeful that something would help the stagnant
job market and bring an
influx of people and jobs to
the area.
Beadle said a lot will
depend on where interest
rates go. “There has been a
lot of talk about lowering the
interest rates even more to 4
to 4.5 percent. If the market
doesn’t turn with that kind of
interest rate, I don’t know
what it will take. That should
spur activity. Those would be
the lowest interest rates in 50
years.” In addition, Beadle
added, the National Associa-
tion of Realtors is trying to
get Congress to pass a stimulus package which would
include incentives for buying
a house.
No matter what the future
may bring, Kevin said, “it’s
not all doom and gloom.”
The Walshes explained that
current home sales are on par
with those in the early 2000s.
“We considered those good
years,” Gretchen said. “In the
following years, real estate
was so good – nationwide –
that we had to adjust. Now
things are getting back to normal.”
“These are the same numbers we saw in 2002, we’re
just looking at them from a
different perspective,” Kevin
said.
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PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
Success Stories
Chenango Speech
and Hearing Center
Chenango Speech and Hearing Center, owned and
operated by Dr. Linda Horovitz, has been part of
Chenango County with services provided to surrounding counties for 16 years. Dr. Horovitz has her doctoral degree in Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation and Hearing Aids. She has 30 years of experience as an audiologist. Patients come from all surrounding counties and
as far away as Pennsylvania. We also test children.
One of our goals is to make sure we have the most
up-to-date diagnostic equipment available for hearing
evaluations and hearing aids. We have just purchased
all new equipment so that we can better serve our
patients. We also have a soundproof booth, which is
required by all hospitals and ear, nose and throat doctors for their audiologists to ensure a proper testing
environment.
Dr. Horovitz works closely with all area physicians,
including the new ear, nose and throat physicians in
Norwich, Chenango Memorial Hospital ENT Services,
Dr. J. Paul Sweet, MD, and Dr. C. Henry Larson, MD,
for whom Dr. Horovitz provides all audiological testing.
Chenango Speech and Hearing has full-time hours
every day of the week and emergency coverage is
available if needed by a patient. There are two fulltime staff members in the office, and we anticipate hiring a third part-time person.
We work with all insurance plans and are participating providers with most. If you have a question about
your audiological insurance coverage, our office staff
will address your questions. This is a new service we
have added to help people better understand their
health insurance benefits.
Dr. Horovitz states that her practice is continually
growing, and anticipates that it will continue to grow
and provide only the most professional care for individuals with hearing problems and hearing aid needs.
“If you have built castles in the
air, your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be.
Now put foundations
under them.”
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
5
VALLEY RIDGE C I T
On the cutting edge of
behavioral therapy
BY MELISSA
DECORDOVA
The Evening Sun
N
ow in its seventh
year of operation,
the Valley Ridge
Center for Intensive Treatment on Upper Ravine Road
in Norwich has drawn the
attention of institutions
nationwide that treat similarly dangerous populations. we are doing at Valley Ridge.
It’s a very challenging popuValley Ridge Director lation that we have here, but I
Chuck Kearley attests the believe that we help individurecognition to an ever-evolv- als live a richer life.”
ing behavioral therapy sysKearley said most of us
tem that remains on the cut- have a ‘managed care mindting edge in the industry.
set’ that expects treatment
“We haven’t been stagnant and therapy to make people
up here since opening in healthy again. But that’s not
2002. We are always chang- what happens with the coning the therapeutic milieu, sumers at Valley Ridge. Only
and people throughout the about eight consumers annustate and around the country ally improve their behaviors
are calling and wanting to and progress out of the maxivisit to see what we do,” he mum security facility into
said.
lower level treatment.
The approximately 60, 18“It takes a lot of hard work
35 year-old, consumers at to change behaviors. It’s a
Valley Ridge fall into danger- long, challenging, and diffious categories like pedophile, cult process,” he said. “But as
violent offender or arsonist. they walk out of here to less
Most are developmentally restrictive institutions, with
disabled and function at a ongoing support throughout
high school level or below. their lives, we are confident
They may have committed that they will continue to be
crimes against people and successful.”
property.
The Valley Ridge CIT is a
Changing such negative program of the New York
behaviors, or as the director State Office of Mental Retarpoints out, “replacing them dation and Developmental
with positive ones,” may take Disabilities (OMRDD). Cona very, very long time. The sumers live and participate in
effort and end result, howev- individual group homes, take
er, have been worth it, he classes on anger managesaid.
ment, relapse, empathy and
“I’m a big believer in what other behavioral skills and
learn work skills.
The center employs 244,
about 193 of whom are from
Chenango County. At an
average wage of about
$40,000 plus benefits, the
economic impact locally is
approaching $8.6 million,
Kearley said.
“That’s a number I keep
close track of. That’s got to
be good for the county,” he
said.
The employee turnover rate
is less than 4 percent and the
center has no trouble filling
positions. What’s more, the
director said he is very proud
of the workforce. Though
young and despite the tough
economic climate, they set
records in contributions to
local charities and organizations this year, from making
Meals on Wheels to conducting a present drive for the
Area Agency on Aging.
After a lengthy two-year
long vetting process that was
delayed with the change in
the state’s governorship, two
new members were recently
appointed to fill long-standing vacancies on the Board of
Visitors: Lee Wilhelm and
Dr. Albert B. Kochersperger.
Stephen Bernardi became the
NG
RATI F
B
E
L
CE EARS O RESS
95 Y D PROG
INUE
T
N
O
C
board’s
newly-appointed
president following in the
footsteps of his predecessor,
Irad Ingraham. Thomas
Whittaker is also a member.
The five-member board
meets regularly to discuss the
facility and its programs, to
review periodic status reports
from the New York State
Office of Mental Health, and
to discuss any complaints
filed by consumers. The
board is responsible for making unannounced visits
throughout the year. Bernardi, who is a past deputy of the
New York State Department
of Corrections, said members
are permitted to go anywhere
unaccompanied by staff.
“We can interact with all
the consumers, interact with
them in the housing units and
cafeteria and occasionally sit
in on counseling. We are
always treated with respect
by consumers and staff. The
facility is running probably
the best I’ve seen it since I’ve
been on the board,” he said.
Due to budget constraints,
a building project planned for
the 23-acre campus is stalled
in Albany. Officials had
hoped to break ground last
spring for a 14,000 square
foot addition onto the east
side of the facility. Bernardi
said he didn’t know whether
Governor David Paterson’s
budget proposals would
affect the expansion or not.
“I worked for 35 years for
the state. Anything could
happen during budget time,”
he said.
From Blueprints
To Completion...
Ninety-Five years ago in 1914 Herman R. Hall started serving the Chenango County Area.
He was later joined by son Harold G. Hall.
The family business is located permanently at 88 Cortland Street in Norwich. Today, with
the fourth generation, it is managed by Harold’s son and daughter who are working to
carry on the tradition that was set in 1914.
We offer...a professional approach to remodeling, light commercial projects, new homes
and renovations along with all aspects of your building needs.
Design & Construction Contracting
• New Homes • Room Additions • Decks & Patios • Windows & Doors •Porches
• Family Rooms • Garages • Roofing • Renovations • Light Commercial
• Siding of all types • Kitchens • Baths • New Doors
Our goal is simply to provide our customer with designs specifically tailored to their needs
and budget and with quality and value, using the finest craftsmen. For 95 years we have
delivered on these values.
Our company has built its reputation by employing an experienced group of professional
craftsmen with diversified range of skill and talents.
The office and wood working shop is open Monday through Friday or by appointment.
Call 334-2176.
Put our many years of growth and experience to work for you.
Four generations of tradition and excellence...
Celebrating 95 Years
88 Cortland Street •
334-2176
6
PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
N E W Y O R K S T A T E V E T E R A N S’ HO M E
AT
OXFORD
Where the emphasis is on ‘home’
BY MELISSA STAGNARO
The Evening Sun
T
he list of amenities at
the new state-of-theart residential care
facility at the New York
State Veterans’ Home in
Oxford is impressive.
Each of the building’s 242
private rooms will be complete with an on-suite bath,
high definition flat panel television and its own ceiling lift.
There will be wireless internet access throughout as well
as plenty of natural lighting,
wood accents, wide hallways
and spacious dining areas in
each of the facility’s seven
residential “neighborhoods.”
There is just one catch: It
isn’t ready yet.
“It will be a showplace
when it opens,” said Sally
Venugopalan, the facility’s
top administrator. Unfortunately, that opening date is
still up in the air.
Construction
on
the
220,000 square foot, $65 million project began in 2006.
Venugopalan had hoped to be
in the new building before the
end of 2008, but a number of
small “hitches” keep pushing
the move-in date further into
the future.
In preparation for the
much-anticipated day, the
Vets’ Home staff and administration have already spent
time planning the logistics of
the move. The transition will,
no doubt, take a great deal of
effort and coordination.
At the moment, the plan is
to move all of the building’s
residents in one day, Venugopalan said, but the details
are not yet set in stone.
Staff and residents are anxiously awaiting completion of the brand
new, $65 million Vets’ Home adjacent to the current Oxford campus.
“We’re working very
closely with the unions to
make sure everyone is on
board with it,” she explained.
According to the administrator, the design of the new
facility was a collaborative
effort, with residents and staff
taking an active role in the
process. Some of the ideas
generated were presented to
the architects on post-it notes.
“Everybody worked very
closely together,” said Venugopalan, adding that she felt
those who participated would
be pleased with how much of
their input has been incorporated into the final design.
The end result, she said, “will
be extraordinarily home-like,
and not at all institutional.”
The safety and security of
the facility’s residents are of
paramount
concern,
explained Venugopalan. The
new building will have a
large number of surveillance
cameras, especially in the
hallways and stairwells, to
help ensure any resident in
need receives immediate
attention.
“We’re completely focused
on safe patient handling,”
said Venugopalan. The lifts in
each room contribute to that
end, as they help ensure the
safety of residents as well as
reduce the risk of injury
among staff members.
The new facility is necessary for several reasons, the
administrator explained. First
and foremost is that the current building was constructed
for a much different type of
resident, one who required
less medical care.
“When I started here ... half
of the facility was healthrelated and half was skilled
nursing,” said CFO Lori
Meszler. Now the Vets’ Home
is entirely skilled nursing.
“We’ve become really well
versed in pain management
and providing palliative
care,” said Venugopalan, who
also adds rehabilitation to
their list of specialties.
The facility’s demographics are changing as well. Current residents include veter-
ans from World War II, the
Korean War and Vietnam as
well as their spouses and parents. But before long, they
know they will be seeing veterans from the Iraq War and
Afghanistan as well. Generational differences will mean
they will have very different
needs and expectations,
Venugopalan
explained,
hence the wireless Internet
access and other technologies.
“This is for the future. The
(new) building has to be a living thing for the next 40, 50
years,” she said.
The Vets’ Home can
accommodate 242 residents.
While there is no waiting list,
they are consistently filled to
more than 98 percent of their
maximum occupancy.
According to Venugopalan,
65 percent of their current
residents are veterans, with
the remaining 35 being
spouses and parents. Because
of the Veterans Administration grant they received to
fund the new construction,
the facility will need to
increase the portion of its
population made up by veterans to 75 percent.
The idea of community is
an important one for the Vets’
Home in more than one
respect.
Because they employ
roughly 430 people (in a
combination of full-time,
part-time and per diem positions), they are closely tied
with the surrounding community. When it comes to hiring,
they look locally. And in the
case of certified nursing
assistants, they are fully prepared to train new staff.
“We grow our own,” said
Venugopalan. “The nursing
department works very closely with them.”
The Vets’ Home’s CNA
training program has been
recognized for its success by
the Long Term Care Administrators Association of the
Southern Tier and, following
a presentation at a national
conference, has become a
model for other facilities.
“We do at least two classes
every year,” Meszler said.
According to her, the program is so popular that each
time it is offered, the facility
receives hundreds of applications for the 15 to 20 places
available per class.
The facility also hosts a
number of interns throughout
the year, which Meszler said
benefits both the students and
facility.
“We’re able to teach them a
lot, but they bring a lot of
new ideas to us as well,” she
explained, adding that the
Vets’ Home has a great working relationship with the
teaching institutions which
send students.
Efforts are made to encourage a sense of community
between residents and staff.
Meszler reported that display
cases around the center are
filled with artwork created by
staff members, residents and
even family members.
“It brings our community
closer together,” Meszler
explained. Even she has been
surprised by the results of the
project. “I had no idea we
had so much talent on staff.”
Another important part of
the residential care facility’s
community are many service
organizations which support
them, including the Board of
Visitors, Volunteer Guild and
the American Legion family
of organizations.
“They are phenomenal,”
said Venugopalan. “You give
them a wish list and they
make it happen.”
Those contributions of
time, items and donations
will be even more important
in 2009.
“We are in uncharted budgetary times,” said Venugopalan, explaining that
while the Veterans’ Home is a
state facility, they are self
supporting financially. “We
have to learn to become even
more creative.
Besides the transition from
the old building to the new,
Venugopalan has another
goal for the coming year. In a
recent report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which evaluated
the quality of care at 16,000
nursing homes around the
country, the Oxford veterans’
facility received four stars.
“In 2009, it has to be five
stars,” she said.
PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
7
T H E C H I L D R E N’ S C E N T E R
Success Stories
It takes a village ...
Skillin’s Jewelers
Even with the news of a recession, Skillin’s customers
shopped locally and were able to buy beautiful quality jewelry that was very affordable. Skillin’s carries the latest
styles in 14kt gold with a lifetime guarantee. Silver jewelry
was very popular featuring Pandora silver bracelets and
charms. Skillin’s is the area’s exclusive dealer of Pandora
and has hundreds of charms to choose from starting at just
$25.00. You can design your own bracelet that tells your personal story and you can change the charms yourself to use
different colored Murano glass beads.
2009 will have its challenges, but Skillin’s will continue
to offer a diverse selection of new and quality jewelry that is
affordable and anyone will be proud to give. Hal Skillin will
be attending a National Jewelry show in Tampa in March to
keep up with the latest trends and to attend seminars.
Skillin’s will still offer expert jewelry and watch repair
and custom design. They do professional jewelry appraisals
and offer free jewelry cleaning and inspection. Skillin’s is
proud and grateful to have earned your trust for over 87
years.
BY MARTHA BROWER-RYAN
Correspondent
A
common African
proverb, recently
popularized
by
Hillary Clinton, states that it
“takes a village to raise a
child.” The Children’s Center of Norwich understands
the wisdom of this statement on every level.
The Children’s Center was
established in 1989 as a community-wide effort to address
unmet childcare needs of
working families in Chenango County. The Center provides childcare and early
childhood development services for children of working
families from infants up to
pre-school age. The Center is
the only daycare in Chenango
County that is licensed by the
New York State Office of
Children and Family Services.
Access to affordable childcare is one of the main
impediments to employment.
According to the Department
of Labor, it ranks in the top
five. This access to childcare
reached critical proportions
in 1998 when minimum wage
levels failed to keep up with
cost of living and inflation
levels.
The Children’s Center has
since its inception offered
financial assistance to families in need. Tuitions fees
were offered on a sliding
scale according to family
income. As the economy
worsened the sliding scale
model became more and
more financially inefficient,
creating increasing opera-
Enlightened Dentistry
Enlightened Dentistry services include TMJ , teeth sensitivity, teeth straightening, root canals, gum care , and periodontal care. Their mission is to take the fear out of seeing
the dentist and at the same time, delivering the highest quality of care with the most advanced technology. From the
wireless intraoral cameras to the pen like laser device to
detect cavities, from the computerized novacaine shots to
the computerized bite balancing, no detail has been overlooked to make the patient feel relaxed, comfortable and
confident.
The doctor and staff work together to continuously train
so patients can receive the best care possible. In 2008, two
dental assistants passed exams. Kelly Kasmarcik passed the
NY State Dental Assisting National Boards while Shannon
Robinson passed the NY Licensure allowing her to do
extended dental care such as doing fillings. Erin Ballard, a
dental Hygienist, completed local anesthesia anesthesia
training allowing her to administer Novacaine. Educators
are often invited to keep the staff up to date.
Enlightened Dentistry keeps in touch with the community. Local artists from Chenango Council of the Arts display
their work at the office. Crowns are made in Greene. Moreover, the staff go out into the community to teach oral health
awareness. Finally, the practice sponsors a YMCA corporate
basketball team. If one cannot make it to the game, one can
catch the highlights on Youtube.com under the title, “norwichdental.”
The most important part of dental care is preventing problems before they start. If one feels there something wrong in
the mouth, see your local dentist and don’t wait until the
tooth hurts. If you don’t have a dentist, we look forward to
helping and meeting you.
Enlightened Dentistry is located in downtown Norwich
behind Howard Johnsons. The office hours are Monday to
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is ample parking.
Your Friends and Neighbors since 1814
tional cost gaps. These gaps
were absorbed by Catholic
Charities, the parent organization of the Children’s Center; monies that can not be
secured for the future.
The increase in minimum
wage, spiking fuel costs and
growing fears of an historic
financial recession were all
clear messages that the Children’s Center needed to be
infused with a new source of
funding to continue to provide services to the working
families of Chenango County; and to preserve this example of true local leadership.
In 2008 the Board of Directors at Catholic Charities
made the decision to be
proactive in the face of looming financial hardship. Board
members immersed themselves in the analysis of
financial performance and
strategic discussions about
measures to preserve the
financial assistance program
offered to families in need.
After a deep study of national
financial performance data
for similar child care centers,
the Board of Directors decided to implement a Scholarship Fund Program and forecasted the amount of funds
needed to continue to help the
working families of Chenango County.
As a result of this strategic
process, a fundraising campaign was launched in the
spring of 2008. Comprised of
three phases, the first phase
was successfully completed
in December of 2008. Thanks
to the largess and loyal support of local community
foundations, the Center has
received three much needed
pledges for the Scholarship
Fund Program. Dr. Jane Coddington, Director of Catholic
Charities commented, “I
can’t thank the directors of
our local foundations enough.
In true community spirit, they
are giving back to our children and working families a
life-line of hope for the
future.”
The second phase of the
fundraising strategy will be
launched on Jan. 29 at the
City of Norwich fire station.
This fundraising event is
called “A Night of Cookies
and Cream.” This event is an
opportunity for members of
the community to support the
Children’s Center. It will be
an evening of free cookies
and milk for all who attend,
along with various fundraising activities. The main
fundraising activity will be a
celebrity cookies auction.
Said Martha Brower-Ryan,
event coordinator and campaign chair, “We sent empty
cookie jars to local celebrities
and asked the celebrities to
fill the jars with a batch of
cookies to auction off at the
event. The response has been
overwhelming. Our celebrities have responded with
energy and commitment. To
the children and families we
serve, each and every one
deserves a Celebrity Award.”
Dr. Coddington commended Board Members on their
leadership and shared this
comment
about
future
fundraising endeavors, “Our
Board Members are resolute
in their commitment to volunteer services and oftentimes shoulder a heavy burden on behalf of the many
community support programs
we offer. I applaud their willingness to search for and to
recognize opportunities that
will benefit the Children’s
Center. The third phase of our
fundraising campaign for the
Scholarship Program will
lead us to national funding
sources with the hope of preserving this vital institution
for our children and the
working families of Chenango County.”
Seeing is Believing...
United Church of Christ
First Congregational
WHITE HOUSE
CABINET SHOP
LLC
An Open and Affirming Church
B. Webster & Sons
Woodworkers
11 West Main Street, Norwich, NY 13815
607-334-3434
– office@uccnorwichny.org – www.uccnorwichny.org
11 Knapp Street
(2nd. St. North of light)
Sherburne, NY 13460
Phone: 607-674-9358
fax: 607-674-9767
E-mail:
whitehousecabinetshop
@frontiernet.net
JOIN US
Worship Service
- Sundays, 10:00 a.m.
Nursery Care Provided
Church School • Study Groups
Youth Group • Choir
A Community in Jesus, the Christ, led by the Spirit, striving to show God’s love to all people.
PROGRESS
BEING MADE
HERE!
Original Furniture
and Designs
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS,
but at White House Cabinet Shop in Sherburne you have to see and feel
our hand built products to really appreciate true craftsmanship.
Stop by our showroom M-F 7-3:30 or by appointment.
FREE
Come see our NEW Kitchen Display in our Showroom.
Personal Services Offered - Kitchen Specialist
• In Home Analysis and Consultation • Complete Design Analysis
• Computer Drawings and Walk Through • Truly Custom Built in Our Shop
• Complete Installation • Lighting Design • Ability to Remodel Existing Home
CDs available
of jobs
completed.
There is a
FUTURE in
your PAST
Museum Hours
SHEAR • BEND • PUNCH • WELD • THREAD
BEAMS • SHEET • TUBE • PIPE • CHANNELS
ANGLES • BARS • EXPANDED METAL • BAR GRATING
CULVERT PIPE & ACCESSORIES
REBAR • WIRE MESH • LINTELS
Weekdays 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
April thru Dec.
or by appointment (607) 334-9227
Closed January 1, Easter, Memorial Day,
4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day,
December 24, 25 & 31
Welcome to Chenango County
Where
History
Lives...
Visit the
SINCE 1964
Chenango County Historical Society Museum
No Inquiry Too Big Or Too Small. We Deliver
45 Rexford St., Norwich • Phone: 334-9227
www.steelsalesinc.com
Email: cchsmuseum@roadrunner.com
Visit our website at: chenango.history.museum
To become a member of the museum contact our office from 1 pm-5 pm weekdays.
All support is appreciated
8
PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN
COMMERCE CHENANGO
50TH ANNIVERSARY
1959-2009
Celebrating 50 years of Service and Support to the
Chenango County Business Community
The Chamber’s commitment and vision goes far beyond tomorrow.
As we approach 2009 and our 50th year, the staff and members of
the Chamber know that if growth and expansion are to be
meaningful and beneficial, we must rise up from a stable economic
base. Critical community issues must be confronted, researched and
solved. Now, more than ever, we must stand side-by-side to work
together for the development of our area.
Staff
Maureen Carpenter, President & CEO
(607) 334-1400 • info@chenangony.org
1-877-CHENANGO www.chenangony.org
Rachel Crandall, Membership & Programs
Kate Jones, Finance
Audrey Robinson, Marketing & Tourism
Francene Strong, Office Assistant
Jennifer Tavares, Economic Development