Read more about the article Tim’s Notes: Hidden Gem — Oswego Civic Arts Center
Production of “The Last Lifeboat” in 2023 at the Oswego Civic Arts Center. Courtesy of Oswego Players.

Tim’s Notes: Hidden Gem — Oswego Civic Arts Center

Center draws on collaborations, communityby Tim Nekritz  |  nekritz@gmail.comIt’s a gorgeous, sunny Saturday afternoon in late August. A small group of volunteers are in the Oswego Civic Arts Center’s Frances Marion Brown Theater painting and hanging lights for the next Oswego Players’ production.In the western end of the east side building, the Art Association of Oswego has two exhibitions up in its galleries and spaces ready for the next class or gathering.While this humming center for creatives of all types is a hidden gem for some — and is among the properties that might be included in a new national park — those who know and love the spaces welcome the added attention to the fruits of their labor.If you were to walk into what was then known as Building 31 as recently as the early 1960s, you would have seen an abandoned building, where the only occupants documented were pigeons (and their droppings). This space definitely houses a comeback story.Constructed by the state from 1903 to 1905 as part of Fort Ontario’s operations, the building initially housed Fort Ontario’s quartermaster. But it subsequently played a role in one of the Port City’s most remarkable stories when 982 refugees came (more…)

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Read more about the article Fair Haven’s Tourist Season Boost
Fair Haven Porch Fest 2023. Photos courtesy of Kyle Meddaugh | onephotophoto.com

Fair Haven’s Tourist Season Boost

There are beautiful beaches, fine food, great music and more … but no stop lightsBy Stefan YablonskiFair Haven does the Fourth of July big, with their mile-long parade kicking off the weekend-long event on Thursday night every year.Fair Haven is a village located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in Cayuga County, on Little Sodus Bay. According to the 2020 census, its population is 760. However, during the summer months, the population increases as scores of visitors flock to the idyllic village within the town of Sterling.Kyle D. Meddaugh is the self-proclaimed ambassador of Fair Haven.Why is Fair Haven so popular?“I certainly can’t be sure — but I’ve personally been very active in trying to help ‘put Fair Haven on the map’ for a number of years, through my photography,” he replied.Meddaugh is the president of the Fair Haven Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also owner and photographer at onePhoto Photography and the proprietor of the downtown Fair Haven shop Main Street Emporium, along with his wife, Marnie. And he is vice president of the Save Our Fourth Association board, the group that oversees the huge 4th of July celebration in the village.“I think right about the time (more…)

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Read more about the article Special Report: Social Media Helps Small Companies Grow

Special Report: Social Media Helps Small Companies Grow

Likes, links and forwards can get your brand in the limelightBy Deborah Jeanne SergeantIf you think that social media is only for large companies, perhaps you should consider adjusting your perspective.It’s free, easy to use and can prove an effective means of reaching your customers. How you do it is what matters.“Small businesses can use social media to connect with their customers by being authentic and engaging,” said Heather McCoy, owner of 315 Designs, LLC in Fulton.Unlike a slick radio spot or TV ad, social media is about being real and approachable — not “salesy.”It’s also not important how many people you reach on social media, but the means by which they are reached.“Authentic engagement outweighs vanity metrics now,” McCoy said. “In today’s world, social media success is more about building real connections than just chasing likes. Small businesses should focus on creating genuine interactions by sharing relatable content and actively engaging with their customers. It’s not about having the largest following, but about fostering meaningful relationships with the people who support your brand.”Reaching your ideal target market relies upon selecting the social media platform where they’re active, such as Gen Z preferring YouTube above all other platforms, according to Morning (more…)

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Read more about the article When TCJA Ends

When TCJA Ends

What will the end of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 mean to small businesses?By Deborah Jeanne SergeantMichael J. Reilly, certified public accountant and consulting partner at Dannible & McKee, LLP.The possible sunset of the Trump era Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) may affect small businesses in ways that business owners have not yet considered. The TCJA is slated to end in 2025 unless Congress intervenes.“We don’t know what will happen,” said Michael J. Reilly, certified public accountant and consulting partner at Dannible & McKee, LLP, headquartered in Syracuse with additional offices in Auburn, Binghamton and Schenectady and Tampa, Florida. “Biden has said that nothing would change for those under $400,000. Trump talks about keeping these measures and expanding them—and not only for the higher incomes, but the middle class too.”Reilly said that the largest impact from an end of the TCJA on small businesses would be the end of the qualified business income deduction. The QBI deduction provides for a 20% deduction against business income effectively lowering taxable income for many small businesses such as sole proprietors and owners of pass-through entities. For example, for taxpayers in the top federal tax bracket of 37%, their (more…)

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Read more about the article Key to Your Brand: A Style Guide

Key to Your Brand: A Style Guide

Style guides help companies to communicate more consistently, experts sayBy Deborah Jeanne SergeantAlexandra Fitzpatrick is marketing and communications manager at Operation Oswego County. “Having an in-house style guide provides consistency, branding and professionalism,” she says.Does your company have a style guide? A style guide is a set of companywide policies about language and visuals for official company communications both internal and external. Style guides are commonplace among periodicals to maintain consistent means of expression. But they’re not only for media. Every company needs one.It may seem fusty to care about wording in an era of social media rife with slang and slack on grammar. Many text messages lack punctuation and are peppered with emojis and GIFs. However, a company style guide can help your company’s wording appear professional and clear — and determine if and when those emojis and GIFs are appropriate.“Having an in-house style guide provides consistency, branding and professionalism,” said Alexandra Fitzpatrick, marketing and communications manager at Operation Oswego County. “It allows your company to present a cohesive and professional image, while strengthening its brand identity.”Companies connect with the public is a variety of ways, including social media, TV and radio spots, print advertising, press releases and more. (more…)

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Read more about the article What to Do When the Bill Comes Due

What to Do When the Bill Comes Due

You have options when it comes to large hospital bills you can’t payBy Deborah Jeanne SergeantThe average hospital stay costs $2,883 per day, in addition to expenses for lab work and specialists.A lengthy hospital stay can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Although insurance can certainly help defray the out-of-pocket expense, it doesn’t guarantee affordable care.“Gone are the days of a $20 co-pay,” said Marissa Vartak, family nurse practitioner, board certified in family medicine and owner of On Care Family Health in Cicero. “Ninety percent of my patients have $6,000 deductibles.”These high deductible plans often cover up to 80% of the amount left after the $6,000 deductible has been met.A person with this type of insurance plan would pay $10,800 for a $60,000 hospital bill (a three-week stay, plus lab work and tests) after paying the $6,000 deductible, making their total out-of-pocket cost $16,800.Many people would find this sum out of reach, especially if they have missed work because of their hospitalization or if they live on a fixed income.Although most hospitals will set up a payment plan, unfortunately, many turn to suing patients to collect overdue bills. According to a sample of more than 500 hospitals across the (more…)

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Read more about the article Ontario Orchards

Ontario Orchards

One of the largest and most complete farm markets in Central New York celebrates 60 years in operationsBy Tom and Jerry Caraccioli The Ouellette family, front to back: Dennis, Laurie, June and Kathy. Photo courtesy of Ontario Orchards.In 1964, if you went to Ontario Orchards to buy fresh fruit and produce, a bushel of apples (approximately 42 pounds or 100 apples) cost about $3. Corn was going for about a dollar a dozen. And strawberries were a dollar a quart.For more than seven decades Dennis Ouellette has been an agriculturist.This fall, the Ouellette family, led by Dennis and his wife, June, along with daughters, Kathy and Laurie, and grandchildren, celebrate the 60th anniversary of owning and operating Ontario Orchards.From the very beginning they made a point of selling their own fruit, vegetables and Christmas trees, as well as help the local economy by selling goods grown by local farmers.Today, Ontario Orchards has become one of the most diverse, complete, family-owned farm markets in Central New York and New York state. Early startOntario Orchards is presenting its 24th Annual Fall Jamboree in September. Pictured are Kathy Ouellette-Pfeifer, Laurie Oleyourryk and Dennis Ouellette during last year’s preparation.It all started for Ouellette as a 6-year-old (more…)

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Read more about the article Q&A: Port Director Looks to Start the Next Chapter in his Life
William Scriber, executive director of the Port of Oswego Authority. SUNY Oswego 03/13/2019

Q&A: Port Director Looks to Start the Next Chapter in his Life

William Scriber, Port of Oswego Authority’s executive director and CEO, has announced that he will retire on Dec. 31. The 67-year-old served as manager of port logistics from 2010-17 and served as executive director since 2018.Q: Why did you decide now was the time to retire?A: When times were bad, I couldn’t leave. When times were really good, I didn’t want to leave. Now that I’ve reached the age where I really want to start another chapter in my life — it’s time to say I want to move on. I want to spend time with my family. I have a lot of ‘honey-do’ lists to do. For me, it feels like the right time to pass the torch to someone else.Q: What do you plan to do?A: There are a lot of opportunities out there. I really want to explore them. But I want to just take the first three months off and just relax.Q: Perhaps do some traveling?A: I want to go fishing, which I haven’t done in six years. Then I will look for other stuff in the next chapter. I have had several offers for consulting work.Q: The port has earned much recognition during your tenure. (more…)

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Grossman St. Amour CPAs Announces New Hires

Grossman St. Amour CPAs of Syracuse recently welcomed two professionals: Kelly Caza• Kelly N. Caza is a full-time staff accountant in the firm’s audit services group. She practices in the areas of audit and attest engagements, bookkeeping and financial statement preparation. Her clients include nonprofit organizations, public school districts and government and municipalities.  She is a graduate of the SUNY Oswego having received a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degree in public accounting and finance. She is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs, Syracuse chapter, and Beta Alpha Psi. Her leadership experience includes treasurer of Women in Business at SUNY Oswego, president of the Accounting Society at SUNY Oswego, and Worship Leader at Fulton First United Methodist Church. Caza previously completed an internship at the firm. (more…) (more…)

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Newsmakers: Daniel Belfield Promoted to VP General Counsel at AmeriCU

AmeriCU Credit Union announced the promotion of Daniel Belfield to vice president general counsel. With extensive experience in both private practice and corporate settings he brings invaluable expertise to his new role.The first attorney to serve as in-house counsel to AmeriCU, attorney Belfield has spent the past few years building a legal department from the ground-up. This has included establishing a legal operations group to handle the credit union’s day-to-day legal activities, as well as streamlining vendor management and document control, and otherwise advising the credit union on a wide array of legal, compliance, and risk management issues.“Attorney Belfield’s promotion to vice president general counsel is a testament to his unwavering dedication, exceptional expertise, and leadership within our organization,” said Mark Livesey, chief risk officer of AmeriCU Credit Union. (more…) (more…)

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