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Dr. Strouse Elected VP of NYS Academy of Family Physicians

The New York State Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAFP) has elected Wayne S. Strouse, MD, of Penn Yan, as Vice President. Dr. Strouse was elected to serve a one-year term at the NYSAFP Congress of Delegates May 18 in Albany.
Strouse received his MD at the Medical College of Virginia (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and has a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to opening his solo private practice office in 1997, he completed his family medicine residency at the East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in Kingsport, Tenn. He also worked as a Navy physician and as an Assistant Professor teaching residents and medical students in family medicine at Quillen and the Rural Residency in Rushville, a part of the University of Rochester.
Strouse has served as a delegate to the NYSAFP Congress of Delegates and sponsored numerous resolutions. Additionally, he has been a leading advocate for a single payer health care system as a founding member of the Central and Western N.Y. Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program.
Dr. Strouse, a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, received the NY State Family Physician of the Year Award in 2020 by NYSAFP and previously served as a physician director of NYSAFP. He is married to Dr. Janet Lewis and has two daughters, Kelsey Strouse and Rabbi Lily Solochek.
The NYSAFP represents Family Medicine Physicians throughout the State of NY, including more than 6000 practicing Family Doctors, Family Medicine Residents, and affiliated Medical Students. Its mission is to provide advocacy, education, and mentorship to improve the lives of its members and their patients.

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Penn Yan Lions Award Scholarships

The Penn Yan Lions Club Foundation recently presented three scholarships at the Annual Awards presentation at Penn Yan Academy.
The Elliot Vorce Community Service Award is given to two graduating seniors. Elliot Vorce was an enthusiastic Lion member, former King Lion and a beloved Penn Yan Academy History teacher for many years. The $2,000 award is given in consideration of an individual's community service activities over the student's entire school career. This year, two awards were presented to Rachel Garvey and Hailey Trank of Penn Yan.
The Wayne W. Wagner Sportsman Award honors Wagner's long-term service to community, area youth sports, and conservation. This $500 award is presented to a graduating senior that exemplifies these qualities. This year the award was presented to Hailey Trank as well.
The Lions Foundation selection committee was impressed by both students. They participated and had leadership roles in a wide variety of school, community, church, and sports activities throughout their academic careers. These awards will help them in their future collegiate plans. Trank has enrolled in Nazareth University's Nursing Program. Garvey will be attending SUNY Geneseo, studying Psychology.
"The Lions Club Foundation was honored to recognize these deserving students as a part of our "we serve" mission toward community service and support of our youth," said Club President Norm Koek. "I thank the Scholarship committee members and wish the students much success in their futures."

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Gillibrand leads bipartisan push to compensate dairy farmers fairly

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security, led a bipartisan group of 13 senators in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore the "higher of" Class I pricing formula through the Federal Milk Marketing Order system to fairly compensate dairy farmers and prevent additional losses of Class I skim milk revenue.
In the bipartisan letter, the senators highlight how dairy farmers have lost more than $1.1 billion in Class I skim milk revenue over the past 5 years since the "higher of" Class I pricing formula – the pricing formula for fluid milk, also known as the Class I mover – was modified in the 2018 Farm Bill.
"When the dairy pricing system isn't working for farmers, the economic ramifications are felt across the country," said Gillibrand. "The 'higher of' Class I mover was in place for nearly two decades prior to it being modified in the last Farm Bill, and despite the best of intentions, the current formula has not performed as intended and has cost dairy farmers over a billion dollars nationwide. Restoring the previous 'higher of' Class I mover is the right move to ensure our dairy farmers are properly compensated, and I urge the USDA to restore the formula in the draft and final FMMO changes."
Prior to the 2018 Farm Bill, Class I milk was calculated using the "higher of" Class III or Class IV price plus the applicable Class I differential. This was changed in the most recent Farm Bill to an averaging method of Class III and Class IV plus $0.74. The resulting loss of income for dairy producers has led to increased calls from the industry for USDA to resolve this issue with the Class I mover through the Federal Milk Marketing Order system.
The letter was also signed by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Patty Murray (D-WA).

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Children's Books Teach Us About Immigration

The Penn Yan Action Coalition, a local group dedicated to advocating for immigration justice, chooses great books each year to help inform people as part of our annual community reads. Those selections have always been complex books intended for adults. Today, though, we would like to encourage readers to pick up children's books instead.
Why would we want to pick up a children's book? Because they have a lot to teach us about any topic, including immigration. They are often clearer than adult books and the artwork is often award winning. Our maxim is, "A good children's book is a good book for adults." Simone, written by Viet Thanh Nguyen and illustrated by Minnie Phan, tells the story of a young girl whose life is forever changed by a California wildfire, an event which also triggers her Vietnamese mother's memory of a horrific flooding in Vietnam when she was a young girl. With a new friend, the protagonist is able to use the two experiences to create art and set into motion a collaboration for a healthier future.
We Came to America, written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold, shares its compelling message with succinct text and vivid illustrations of the songs, stories, dance, food, fashion, and art that 'came to America' and made this country rich in diversity.
In Dreamers, the author and illustrator Yuyi Morales uses poetic text and bold illustrations to share her story. Yuyi, an immigrant from Mexico, and her infant son, bring their hopes and dreams to America. They use their own special gifts to build a better future for all of us.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World, by Elena Favilli, includes the stories of women like Belgian-born Liz Claiborne, a woman who wanted to dress busy women who aren't "perfect," and Madeleine Albright, a Czechoslovakian immigrant who became the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State. She became a staunch advocate for democracy and worldwide human rights. Jamaican-American Nadine Burke Harris became California's first surgeon general. She researched and treated toxic stress in children. In the book, she said, "I was inspired to make sure that every child has an equal opportunity to grow up healthy." Mexican immigrant and climate activist, 22-year-old Xiye Bastida Patrick, a senior in college, is leading a youth movement to address climate justice. In her words, "Earth is our home. It gives you air, water, and shelter, everything we need. All it asks is that we protect it."
And to think, we can meet all of these fascinating people in the Youth Department of our local library. Our lives can become richer as our stories intertwine.

Cindy Gorham-Crevelling,
for the Penn Yan Action Coalition

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Republican Primaries

John Christensen There is a Republican Primary in Yates County for U.S. Congress in the 24th District between the incumbent, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, and challenger… Login to continue reading Login…

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Cupola's Big Move

John Christensen PENN YAN – Thursday, May 30, the Empire State Winery Cupola was removed from its site on the Firemen’s Field of the Village… Login to continue reading Login…

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