Newsmakers: Katie Toomey to Chair Oswego Health Foundation

The Oswego Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the nonprofit healthcare system, has announced changes to leadership within its board of directors. Katie Toomey• Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC Chief Marketing Officer Katie Toomey has been appointed as board chairwoman. An Oswego resident, Toomey oversees Bond’s marketing team. She works with the firm’s management on strategic initiatives, including business development, marketing strategy, and implementation of marketing initiatives. Before joining Bond, Toomey was vice president of member engagement with CenterState CEO. She also served as executive director for the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, which became a fully integrated affiliate of CenterState CEO in 2017. Toomey has 20 years of marketing communications and business development experience in a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer goods. In addition to serving in this new leadership role within the Oswego Health Foundation, Toomey is an active member of the Oswego Health system board of directors. Mary Ann Drumm• CRA Medical Imaging CEO Mary Ann Drumm will serve as vice chairwoman. Since 2002, Drumm has been responsible for overseeing the radiology services at the hospitals they service — including Oswego Hospital, Crouse Hospital — and radiology for several subspeciality practices in the surrounding area. The (more…)

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Newsmakers: Will Barclay Named Pathfinder Bank’s Chairman of the Board

Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc., the bank holding company of Pathfinder Bank recently announced that William Barclay has been named chairman of the board of directors. Barclay succeeds Chris Burritt, who retired in accordance with the company’s by-laws. Burritt joined the Board of Directors in 1986 and has served as chairman for 10 years, marking 38 years of dedicated service.    “It has been an honor and privilege to be part of this great organization for 38 years since joining what was then Oswego City Savings Bank. Since then, our bank has grown from $88 million to $1.4 billion in assets, now owned by our shareholders,” said Burritt. “I confidently pass the baton to Will Barclay, whose wealth of experience and wisdom will undoubtedly enrich this role. We trust in his leadership to guide us forward with integrity and vision,” he added. (more…) (more…)

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Alumna Appointed to SUNY Oswego College Council

Carol Bradlinski-Watros has been appointed to SUNY Oswego’s College Council by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul for a seven-year term. The College Council is mandated by New York State Education Law, which provides for the establishment of a local council to supervise the operations and affairs of each state-operated institution of the State University.   Bradlinski-Watros of Mexico received her master’s in counseling services from SUNY Oswego in 1988.Her career was spent in Oswego County schools: at CITI as well as in the Hannibal and Central Square districts. She also spent several years in roles at Madison-Oneida BOCES, Jefferson-Lewis BOCES and Syracuse University.Now in her retirement, Bradlinski-Watros has committed her time to serving the Mexico community, where she moved 30 years ago. She serves on the board of directors for the Mexico Public Library, coordinates the outreach committee for her church and volunteers at a local thrift shop which supports the community’s food pantry. She is also the office manager for Mexico’s Kellogg Memorials. (more…) (more…)

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Read more about the article Scriber makes NY Transportation Power 100 list
Bill Scriber has been the executive director of the Port of Oswego Authority for five years. Photo provided

Scriber makes NY Transportation Power 100 list

William Scriber, Port of Oswego Authority executive director and CEO, was included in the just-published 2024 Transportation Power 100 featured in City & State New York magazine. Scriber, who ranked…

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Battle Island: More Than Just a Golf Course

Rich history envelopes state park prior to America’s independenceBy Tom and Jerry CaraccioliThe Battle Island State Park and Golf Course features 18 holes and 5,973 yards of manicured fairways and greens. Many players and visitors are not aware of the significance of the site.During the 2023 golf season in Central New York nearly 20,000 rounds of golf were played on a course along the Oswego River that got its name from a pre-Revolutionary War skirmish.To this day, many of those golfers — and other visitors — probably are not even aware of the name’s significance.While most visitors to Battle Island State Park and Golf Course are more concerned with birdies and pars on a course featuring 18 holes and 5,973 yards of manicured fairways and greens, this area played a vital role in the history and birth of America. The repercussions of what occurred on this land would be remembered in the burgeoning years and decades after our nation’s birth, as well as today.Two decades before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the rivers and lakes of Upstate New York, as well as west through the Ohio River Valley region, served as important waterways for commerce — especially fur (more…)

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Read more about the article The State of Tourism in Oswego County
Legislator Mary Ellen “Mel” Chesbro

The State of Tourism in Oswego County

By Mary Ellen “Mel” ChesbroOswego County’s tourism encompasses destinations for all four seasons. Whether it is salmon fishing in the spring, baseball tournaments and ATVs in the summer, hunting in the fall or snowmobiling in the winter and multiple historical museums open all year which entices thousands of tourists to choose Oswego County over and over again.While the Oswego County Legislature’s main mission is to be the financial stewards and policy makers for our residents, it is also very cognizant of the importance of the county’s quality of life. Tourism directly impacts both goals because it is an economical and environmental powerhouse for our county. Not only does it provide activities to draw tourists to visit here but it provides important amenities for Oswego County residents to enjoy. Tourism also provides opportunities for businesses to open and grow as it brings awareness to the importance of protecting our environment.Every year the legislature approves funding and assistance to tourism entities such as Legends Field, Dr. Mary Walker, Camp Hollis, Camp Zerbe and snowmobile clubs to name just a few. The legislature also works closely with Operation Oswego County/IDA to bring in new businesses to address the tourism trade.Oswego County is home (more…)

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