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NYS Private Sector Employment Up 10,800 Jobs in July

According to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the N.Y. State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 10,800, or 0.1%, to 8,401,600 in July 2024. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. also increased by 0.1% in July 2024.
N.Y. State's private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 159,900, or 1.9%, over the year in July 2024, which was greater than the 1.4% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.
N.Y. State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.2% to 4.3% in July 2024. At the same time, N.Y. State's labor force (seasonally adjusted) increased by 700. As a result, the statewide labor force participation rate held constant at 61.3% in July 2024.
The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a payroll survey of New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State's unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in the State.
Note: Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, July 2023 versus July 2024.
Statewide Industry Employment
July 2024 – Seasonally Adjusted

On a net basis, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased by 41,400 over the month, while private sector jobs increased by 10,800 in July 2024.
At the same time, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the nation increased by 114,000, while private sector jobs increased by 97,000.

NYS Exceeded Nation in Nonfarm Job Growth
Over-the-Month % Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, June 2024 – July 2024

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The statewide unemployment rate increased from 4.2% to 4.3% in July 2024.
Yates County's unemployment was 3.1% in June, second only to Columbia County at 2.8%
New York City's unemployment rate increased from 4.8% to 5.0%.
In the rest of the state, the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% in July 2024.
The number of unemployed New Yorkers increased over the month by 9,100 from 408,700 in June to 417,800 in July 2024.

Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries - The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem.

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KEUKA COMPASS Influence of LGBTQ+ community impacts us all

During contentious elections, there's a tendency to focus on the world we fear our political foes want, rather than on the world we want to build. Inspired by a recent piece from the Penn Yan Action Coalition about influential immigrants, Keuka Compass offers this list of LGBTQ+ folks from across history who demonstrate the contributions our community makes, often in spite of serious adversity.
LGBTQ+ people have made significant impacts on politics, both securing our own rights and advancing broader issues. Our participation ranges from the conventional to the revolutionary, and everything in between. Notable examples include Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman at the center of the Stonewall riot that jumpstarted the gay rights movement, and Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold a significant elected office as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Bayard Rustin was a Black gay man who spearheaded the 1963 March on Washington. Edith Windsor was a lesbian who simply wanted to formalize her relationship with the woman she loved, leading to the Supreme Court enshrining the right to same-sex marriage. Alexander the Great conquered most of his known world, for better or worse.
The literary world is full of queer voices that influenced and beautified our society, from Sappho, Wilde, Whitman, and Dickinson to contemporary figures like Bechdel, Maupin, and Mary Oliver. Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde were prominent among the Black, queer voices who redefined liberty and justice in the 20th century.
Our world would be less colorful without the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists of all kinds. Many of them endeavored to bring us joy despite the harm they suffered from bigoted families, classmates and neighbors. Andy Warhol showed us that soup cans could be art; Freddy Mercury taught us to be champions; Laverne Cox and Elliott Page are shining examples of how to live authentically in a society that is increasingly adversarial to trans folks.
Our modern lifestyle would not exist without LGBTQ+ scientists and engineers. DaVinci pioneered aeronautics, anatomy, and other fields. Alan Turing made important strides in mathematics and cryptology. Lynn Conway was a trans woman whose work in microchips underlies the technology you use every day - accomplishing that after getting fired from IBM over her transition and working her way back to the top of her field.
If you feel these examples aren't relevant to you, there are some figures without whom our local community would be unrecognizable. Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben was a Prussian military leader who admired our American Revolution and lent his prodigious skills to Washington's Continental Army - and his name to one of the counties in our region; he is considered to have been openly homosexual. And of course, the Publick Universal Friend, a nonbinary religious leader, is a hyper-local queer figure who shaped Yates County's settlement, history, and enduring culture.
This list is not exhaustive, but representative of the array of LGBTQ+ people who have impacted each of us. Some of them enjoyed long, relatively happy lives and positive recognition for their contributions. Others were erased from the record because of their identities, or suffered injustices at the hands of individuals or society; Turing was chemically castrated under British law, and Milk died by an assassin's bullet, for just two examples. Yet, no matter what we go through, there's one thing for sure; the LGBTQ+ community endures, and our contributions are a testament to the fact that we've always been here, playing our part in building a better world. Because the future is a story that we all deserve to be a part of.

Alex Andrasik, Peter Salva
Keuka Compass

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Duo arrested for corruption, burglary, larceny, drug crimes

STEUBEN COUNTY - Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports the arrests of DALE M. SUTTON, 50, of Campbell, and JAMES R. LISEFSKI, 44, of Prattsburgh, on multiple charges resulting from an 8-month investigation spanning four counties and five law enforcement agencies stemming from multiple reported commercial burglaries in Steuben, Allegany, Schuyler, and Yates Counties.
The Steuben, Schuyler, and Yates County Sheriff's Offices, the Penn Yan Police Dept., and the N.Y. State Police worked cooperatively, sharing investigation information and evidence, which conclusively linked Sutton and Lisefski to multiple alleged commercial burglaries, stolen vehicles, arson, larcenies, evidence tampering, property damage, and narcotics sales.
"Hundreds of hours of collaborative investigation techniques and the cooperative efforts of the Steuben, Schuyler, and Yates County District Attorney Offices resulted in a Grand Jury presentation, which led to the indictment of Sutton and Lisefski on 38 individual charges," said Allard.
Sutton and Lisefski are both charged with:

Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony
Seven Counts of 3rd degree Burglary, class D felonies
10 Counts of Criminal Mischief, both felony and misdemeanor
10 Counts of Grand Larceny, class E and D felonies
Three Counts of Petit Larceny
Three Counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence, class E felonies
3rd degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, class B felony
3rd degree Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, a class B felony.

Sutton was arraigned in Steuben County Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail. Lisefski was committed to jail due to an active NYS Parole Violation Warrant and is held without bail.

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NYS hunting licenses & permits now on sale

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2024-25 season are now on sale. The sale kicks off the first time that all hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and associated tags will be printed on plain paper rather than plastic stock.
Licenses and permits at any town office or by telephone at 866-933-2257. Hunting and trapping licenses are valid from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 each year, while annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase.
With the transition to plain paper licenses this year, licenses purchased online or over the phone can be emailed to a customer and printed at home, making them almost instantly accessible. Also new this year, hunters are no longer required to wear a backtag while afield anywhere in New York State. Carrying a proof of licensure in the field (hard copy license or electronic license through the HuntFishNY mobile app) is still required. In addition, while a recent law change gave DEC the authority to accommodate electronic carcass tags for deer, bear, and turkey, this requires a regulatory change. Electronic tagging will not be available for the 2024-25 license year and tags are required to be printed on plain paper and carried while afield.

Beginning this week through Nov. 30, the DEC Call Center is accessible from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 1. Regular call center weekday hours resume Dec. 1.
Individuals should have the following items ready when buying a license:

Complete contact information (e.g., name, address, email address, telephone number). If you are requesting that your license and/or tags be emailed, a valid email address is required;
DEC customer ID number (if applicable);
Proof of residency (e.g., driver's license or non-driver's ID with a valid New York State address);
If purchasing by phone or internet, a valid credit card; and
If not already entered in DEC's automated licensing system, individuals are required to provide proof of hunter or trapper education certification or a copy of a previous license for all hunting and trapping license purchases.

The 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which provides an easy-to-read collection of pertinent rules and regulations, is available at license issuing agents.
Buying your License at the Great New York State Fair?
DEC sells hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in the DEC Aquarium Building at the New York State Fair from Aug. 21 through Sept. 2. Fairgoers are advised that only credit and debit cards are accepted for these purchases at this license sales location.
Deer Management Permits (DMPs)
DMPs, tags for antlerless deer, are available at all license-issuing outlets, by phone, or online through Oct. 1, 2024. DMPs are used to manage the deer population and are issued through an instant random selection process at the point of sale. The chances of obtaining a DMP remain the same throughout the application period; hunters need not rush to apply. The chances of DMP selection in each Wildlife Management Unit (PDF) are available online, through license issuing agents, or by calling the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332. Detailed information on DMPs is available on DEC's website.

Opportunities for New Hunters and Junior Hunters and Trappers
To foster the next generation of hunters and trappers in New York, DEC designates special seasons for junior hunters (licensees aged 12-15) for deer, wild turkey, pheasants, and waterfowl, and opportunities for junior trappers (younger than 12 years old) through a trapper mentoring program. These opportunities allow youth hunters and trappers to spend time in the field with experienced adults and gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of the hunting and trapping community. More information about these programs and other opportunities for junior hunters and trappers is available on DEC's website. 
DEC's Learn to Hunt webpage provides resources both for new hunters and organizations offering mentored hunting opportunities. Mentored hunts allow people with little or no hunting experience to learn additional firearm safety and hunting skills while building confidence under the guidance of more experienced hunters. First-time hunters can find mentored hunt events in New York and register for those learn-to-hunt opportunities on the Mentored Hunt Program registration webpage. DEC's Mentored Hunt Program registration page also provides a platform for those hosting a mentored hunt to advertise their event statewide.
Excellent hunting opportunities throughout the state support the Governor's  "Get Offline, Get Outside" initiative, which was launched earlier this month to promote physical and mental health by helping encourage New York's kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings.

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Remember: Hunt Safe, Hunt Smart!
The number of hunting-relating shooting incidents is declining, but even one incident is too many. Hunters can prevent injuries and fatalities by following the cardinal rules of hunting safety:

Assume every firearm to be loaded.
Control the muzzle in a safe direction.
Keep your finger off the trigger until firing.
Be sure of your target and beyond.
Wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink.  Fluorescent orange or pink not only improve visibility and safety, wearing these colors is also required when hunting big game with a firearm. 
Strap Up Before You Go Up - Tree stand falls are the leading cause of hunting injuries and they are easily preventable. Hunters are advised to use a full-body harness and fall-arrest system and stay connected from the time you leave the ground until the time you return. Check your stand (including straps) every season and replace any worn or missing parts. The proper use of tree stands, and full-body harnesses will help prevent injuries and fatalities. For more information, visit DEC's website and watch a tree stand safety video.

Read MoreNYS hunting licenses & permits now on sale

Forward Leading IPA selected as NYS Social Care Network Lead in FLX

FINGER LAKES — Forward Leading IPA (FLIPA) has been selected by the N.Y. State Dept. of Health to be the lead entity for the Finger Lakes Social Care Network, covering a 14-county region including Alleghany, Cayuga, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
August 7, Governor Kathy Hochul announced FLIPA as one of nine organizations statewide will receive a total of $500 million in awards over the next three years to create a new Social Care Network (SCN) program in N.Y. State.
The Social Care Network program is designed to advance health equity and reduce health disparities by leveraging federal funding to facilitate Medicaid members access to nutritional meals, housing supports, transportation and other social services that can have a significant impact on an individual's health.
"The Social Care Networks will help us transform how we support communities with the greatest unmet needs," Hochul said. "Through the SCN program, we are making a direct investment in the health and wellbeing of our local communities - and New Yorkers will be connected to a more equitable and integrated social and health care system."
As part of its Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver, N.Y. State is creating a new model of care that will integrate health care and social care via networks with associated funding. The $500 million program is one component of a $7.5 billion three-year waiver with nearly $6 billion of federal funding. The SCNs will be core to facilitating the delivery of health-related social needs, including nutrition, housing supports, transportation, and case management for eligible Medicaid members, which are essential to addressing health disparities and improving population health.
"I am so very excited for the Finger Lakes region as we engage in this very important initiative," says FLIPA Board President Mary Zelazny of Finger Lakes Community Health in Penn Yan. "It will require all 'hands on deck' across the 14 counties, but this region is blessed with so many excellent partner organizations who are ready, willing and committed to this work and to successfully improving the lives of many in our communities."
FLIPA Executive Director Patty McMahon adds, "FLIPA is honored to be able to elevate the essential role that community-based organizations play in healthy communities and to integrate their work within the existing primary care and behavioral health care system. It is well established that physical healthcare only accounts for about 20% of overall health and well-being. This is an opportunity to acknowledge that fact and change the lives of eligible Medicaid members by systematically addressing their health-related social care needs."
One example, the Medicaid Redesign Team Supportive Housing Initiative, provides services to homeless New Yorkers with medical conditions. An analysis of the program's housing supports led to better health outcomes such as:

40% reduction in inpatient days
26% reduction in emergency department visits
44% reduction in patients with inpatient substance use rehab admissions
27% reduction in patients with inpatient psychiatric admissions
15% reduction in overall Medicaid health expenditures
Through strategic prioritization, the top 10% of enrollees had average Medicaid savings of $45,600 per person per year

To learn more about Forward Leading IPA (FLIPA) visit www.forwardleadingipa.org

Read MoreForward Leading IPA selected as NYS Social Care Network Lead in FLX

STORK AWARD Lew Ann & Alan Giles honored for lifetime of public service to Dundee

KEUKA PARK — Keuka College hosted a celebration of community on Tuesday, presenting the annual Donald & Corinne Stork Award for Community Service to lifelong Dundee residents Alan & Lew Ann Giles
The Giles were honored for their extensive commitment to public service and community involvement.
Speaking on behalf of the couple, Lew Ann said they were "amazed" at being selected to receive the award.
"Forty-seven years ago, we said our marriage vows," she told the audience of about 80 friends, family, and well-wishers in the college's Geiser Dining Commons. "And we promised, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, in all seasons and all times, we would stay together and work together. And it's been a pretty good team."
The Giles have contributed significantly to various organizations in Dundee, including Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Council of Churches, the Starkey Town Board, Dundee Central School and Library, the Rotary Club, the food pantry, and the Dundee Baptist Church.
In announcing the award, Keuka College Community Associates Board Chair Steve Griffin highlighted two additional initiatives spearheaded by the couple

The "Bookcase for Every Child" campaign to make bookshelves and books available to local children every year
"Our Town Rocks" an ongoing community health improvement project.

"Childhood literacy, public health – those aren't generally the types of issues you often see tackled, especially successfully, at the local level," Griffin said. "But it speaks to just how engaged Alan and Lew Ann are in their community and why they're such worthy recipients of the Stork Award."
Lew Ann attributed their community spirit to values instilled by their parents – "love and respect and care and work and faith in God" – as well as support from their siblings and children. She said the couple has always strived to embody the hymn, "Lord Whose Love Through Humble Service."
"Everything we've done has been humble service because we were gifted by God to listen and love and learn with others," Lew Ann said. "And so, for the children and youth and adults in and around Dundee, it's been a humble privilege to offer hope and help, to give goodwill and comfort, to council when asked, and to give aid and offer peace in whatever situations we could."
College President Amy Storey praised the Giles for their exemplary civic engagement.
"In a world where it's often difficult to discern what's true, you don't have to look any further than Lew Ann and Alan to see what true community spirit and community-minded behavior look like," she said. "I want to thank our Stork Award recipients for being exemplars of that, not only for me but for our students as well."

Read MoreSTORK AWARD Lew Ann & Alan Giles honored for lifetime of public service to Dundee

Peasantman 2024

Picture #1: Men's Full Steel Distance winner Oliver Ellerkamp (L) with race director Joe McMahon. Picture #2: Women's Full Steel Distance winner Maggie Freeman Picture #3: Sprint winners Rachael Mallory and Simon Woods Picture #4: Saturday evening athlete's meeting A bunch of additional event photos to choose from
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PENN YAN - August 18 saw the return of the annual Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon Series to Indian Pines Park in Penn Yan. Nearly 400 competitors from across North America came to the Finger Lakes for a jam-packed day, consisting of ten different race options – in the triathlon, duathlon, and relay categories.
Thunderstorms cleared out just in time for the start of the swim, with the Full Steel Distance kicking off right on schedule at 7 a.m., followed by the Half, Intermediate, and Sprint distance races; 275 swimmers entered the lake, and all 275 completed the swim - well within the cutoff time.
"Today went incredibly smooth, no hiccups really'" said Race Director Joe McMahon. "There was a little bit of wind, but we somehow dodged the nasty weather. Everybody was happy, everyone was safe." He added, "The team around me is the best people I could be lucky enough to find. Everybody is 100% dedicated to everything that we do. We're not just staff, we're family."
To date, First Knight Racing (the management team for Peasantman) has donated over $49,000 to local organizations around Penn Yan since 2013.
"With the largest field in the event's history, we were likely to see some course records – and we did; four in total," says race organizer Steve Anderson. "We'd like to thank anyone and everyone who has helped us along the way, from the athletes to the volunteers, to the villages and surrounding towns who have embraced us for 12 years.'

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Individual race winners

Full results are available at www.FirstKnightRacing.com

TRIATHLONS

Full Steel Triathlon:
M - Oliver Ellerkamp, Peterborough NH, 11:55:53
W – Maggie Freeman, Millstone Township NJ, 13:00:15

Half Steel Triathlon:
M - Alex Smirnoff, Horsham PA, 4:58:45
W - Rebecca Bader, Wilmington MA, 5:26:46

Intermediate Tri:
M – Derek Demass, Ontario NY 2:20:38
W – Amy Voorhees, Dryden NY, 3:11:27

Sprint Tri:
Simon Woods, Pittsford NY, 1:10:26
Rachael Mallory, Henrietta NY, 1:18:41

RELAYS

Half Steel Relay:
Team WFAC – 4:41:47 (*Course Record)

Intermediate Relay:
Chris, Cheer Louder!, 2:40:54 (*Course Record)

AQUABIKES

Full Steel Aqua:
Sam Sagartz, Newfield NH, 6:50:42

Half Steel Aqua:
M – JC Billone, Branchport NY, 3:19:37 (*Course Record)
W – Melissa Whipps, Fayetteville NY, 4:07:12

DUATHLONS

Half Steel Duathlon:
W – Shobha Sidigonde, Newark DE, 4:59:56 (*Course Record)
M – Robert Seaman, Archbold OH, 6:01:50

Intermediate Duathlon:
M – Bruce Wolcott, Canandaigua NY, 2:25:59
F – Katelyn Kirchheimer, Binghamton NY, 2:42:57

Read MorePeasantman 2024

SCOPE Meet the Candidates

PENN YAN - The Yates County chapter of the Shooters Committee on Political Education (SCOPE) hosted their "Meet the Candidates" pig roast Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Firemen's Field.
N.Y.S. SCOPE President John Elwood welcomed the attendees. Yates County Republican Committee Chairman John Prendergast acted as MC, and Bob Lonsberry of WHAM radio was the keynote speaker.
Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was due at another event in her large district and could only stay briefly. She expressed her support of the 2nd amendment and Republican candidates in all state and federal races.
Tenney's Democratic challenger for NY24, David Wagenhauser, and she met in person for the first time at the event. The two greeted each other and spoke politely. Wagenhauser also addressed SCOPE members, stating his support for the 2nd Amendment.
"Like many of you, there was hunting in my house when I grew up – and it just seemed normal," recalled Wagenhauser. "I got a BB gun at 10 years old, then when older, a pump pellet gun, and finally my father's old 16-gauge Remington. Hunting with my friends – rabbit, squirrel, deer - was what we looked forward to. Opening day of deer season was a holiday - my friends and I would skip school and go hunting. I think a lot of people don't realize that growing up in a small town or rural area is just different... Seeking answers, listening to all stakeholders and reaching out to find common ground and getting things done will be my goal. I can assure you, I will defend your Second Amendment right to possess and responsibly use firearms."
7th Judicial Supreme Court candidate Edward White spoke, as did a representative for his fellow candidate Stacey Romeo. State Senator Tom O'Mara, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, and local county candidates Ron Dailey (coroner) and Sarah Purdy (Legislative District 1) also addressed the crowd.

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POLICE REPORTS

Includes reports from Yates County Sheriff's Office, Penn Yan Police Department, and New York State Police. These reports do not indicate guilt, only that someone has been charged with an offence. The term "arrested" does not always mean someone was held in jail.

MISSING MAN FOUND - at about 9:10 a.m. on Aug. 9, Steuben County Sheriff's Deputies and Investigators responded to the area of Taggart Road in the town of Urbana for the report of a missing person. A 54-year-old man had left home the previous evening at about 4 p.m. and not returned and was not answering his phone. Deputies located the man's vehicle near Taggart Road, and found the man at about 9:48 a.m. after he spent the night outside in the rain near a ravine. He was conscious and alert but injured and unable to walk. The Hammondsport Fire Dept. responded with a UTV and transported the man to the road where he was taken by ambulance to hospital.Sheriff Allard thanks the Hammondsport Fire Dept. for their assistance in this investigation and recovery.

HIGH-SPEED DWI CRASH, ARREST - At 3:31 p.m. Aug 13, Yates County Sheriff Deputies arrested DEVAN C. PEEK, 31, of Penn Yan, after responding to a report of a disorderly man in Potter. On their way to the call, Deputies observed Peek driving away at a high rate of speed. They attempted a traffic stop but Peek refused to comply and eventually crashed after failing to make a curve and overturning several times. Peek refused to perform field sobriety tests and was charged with Common Law DWI, Reckless Driving, Speeding, Moving from Lane Unsafely, and Failure to Comply with a Lawful Order. He was taken to the Yates County Jail to await arraignment.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION - Penn Yan Police arrested a 30-year-old woman following a complaint of an intoxicated female who wasn't wearing clothes. Officers were called to a local business and on arrival located the woman outside the store wearing only a t-shirt and nothing on her bottom half. She was drinking alcoholic and was highly intoxicated. Officers contacted EMS who checked the female over and cleared her medically. Officers issued her with tickets for Exposure of a Person, Disorderly Conduct, and Open Container, and provided her with a ride home.

Penn Yan Police arrested BRITTANY J. HYDE, 28, of Hammondsport, on a bench warrant for Petit Larceny. Hyde came to PYPD on an unrelated matter, and a warrant check revealed she was wanted by the N.Y. State Police out of Bath. Officers contacted the NYSP who responded and picked Hyde up on the warrant.

Penn Yan Police arrested CODY S. JACKSON, 27, of Penn Yan, for Open Container after officers found him sleeping in a public park with the open container of alcohol. Jackson was issued a ticket and released to appear village court at a later date.

Yates County Deputies arrested SCOTT L. OVENSHIRE, 52, of Dundee, following an incident that occurred Aug. 9 in Dundee where he allegedly subjected another citizen to unwanted physical contact and acted in a threatening manner. Ovenshire was charged with 2nd degree Harassment and 3rd degree Menacing, and was taken to the county jail to await the next session of Arraignment Court.

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Milly's Pantry construction project gets underway

PENN YAN - Milly's Pantry is excited to announce that after many years of planning, working, and fundraising, Phase 1 construction on their Main St. building has begun.
Williams Construction will soon break ground on the first steps of renovation, and over the next several months will install the four-floor elevator that will make the building so much more accessible to all members of our community, repair the unsafe rear fire escape that is currently preventing the use of the building's upper floors, and fix the aging and crumbling façade. These renovations will help Milly's Pantry to better serve the children and families of Yates County through its Weekend Backpack and School Supplies programs, offer exciting new activities and programs for people of all ages, and continue to be a retail destination in downtown Penn Yan for residents and visitors alike. The Market and Café will remain open during construction.
"We could not be more thrilled that our project is finally underway," says Jan Barrett, President of the Milly's Pantry Board of Directors. "So many people have generously contributed their talents, time, and dedication to making this project a reality. It is only with the support of so many people and the entire Yates County community that we can achieve this milestone. It has truly been a labor of love for our whole team."
Milly's Pantry extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to the many agencies, organizations, and individuals who are supporting this effort, including: the Village of Penn Yan for their assistance with project planning; Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative for its funding of the elevator; the J.M. McDonald Foundation and the Tripp Family Foundation for construction funding; Lyons Bank for serving as a financial partner to this project; Elise Johnson-Schmidt and her team at Johnson-Schmidt and Associated Architects; Williams Construction; Susan and Tom Close for their extraordinary generosity and each and every person who has made a contribution, large or small, to this project. We also extend a warm thanks to all our volunteers and donors who support the work of Milly's Pantry throughout the year.
Once Phase 1 construction is completed, Phase 2 construction can begin. This will include a new roof, repairs to water-damaged walls and ceilings, upgrades to the building's heating and cooling system, and installing handicap-accessible restrooms. Phase 2 construction will begin in late winter 2025, provided the remaining funds needed can be raised. Our Capital Campaign will continue until this project is completed.
If you would like to contribute to Milly's Pantry building renovation project, please visit www.millyspantry.org or stop by Milly's Market and Café at 19 Main St. (Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm), to get a tour and learn more.

Read MoreMilly's Pantry construction project gets underway