September 14, 2026
FROM STEUBEN COUNTY DEMOCRAT CHAIR SHAWN HOGAN: Attention defenders of Democracy and the rule of law. Our Democratic Headquarters is getting ready for operation. We are looking for volunteers. We will have our Grand Opening on Thursday Evening at 6pm 9/17/26.
Please come and show your support, refreshments will be served.
Peace and all good.
Shawn D. Hogan
Steuben County Democratic
Chairman
September 14, 2026
FROM STEUBEN COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR TIM MARSHALL: Avoca Fire Department was dispatched to a Structure Fire this morning at around 9:30. Mutual Aid was provided by Cohocton, Howard, Kanona, Atlanta and Perkinsville. Cohocton Valley Ambulance provided EMS Standby. The fire is still under investigation by the Steuben County Fire Investigation Team. Residents are being assisted by the Red Cross. No further details are available at this time.
September 14, 2026
FROM BATH ELECTRIC GAS AND WATER: *EAST STEUBEN STREET, BEGINNING AT INTERSECTION OF LIBERTY STREET AND WEST-EAST STEUBEN STREET, NORTH SIDE OF PULTENEY PARK***
Villager Construction, contractor for water main replacement within the Village of Bath and nearby areas in the Town of Bath, will be mobilizing to the intersection of Liberty Street and West-East Steuben Street Tuesday, September 15, 2026, to replace water main on East Steuben Street.
Flagging of this intersection for vehicular traffic is anticipated, and scheduled to begin Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Pedestrian traffic will also be impacted. Please follow all signs designating detour routes. We ask all travelers to exercise, extreme caution when traveling through this construction zone. We greatly appreciate the continued patience and understanding of our residents, businesses, patrons, community partners, and visitors.
September 14, 2026
On Tuesday, September 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the New York State Department of Transportation will be conducting a statewide “CDL Day” at 60 participating residencies across the state. During this time, anyone who has a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or is looking to obtain a CDL can walk into any of the participating residencies and apply in person, meet the team and have an on-site interview.
In Region 6 (Southern Tier/Central New York), impacted residencies and addresses are as follows:
Allegany County, 14 South Branch Street, Friendship, NY 14739
Chemung/Schuyler Counties, 3545 Co. Rte. 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Steuben County, 3863 Meads Creek Road, Rd #2, Painted Post, NY 14870
Yates County, 2400 State Route 14A, Penn Yann, NY 14527
September 14, 2026
FROM SENATOR’S SCHUMER AND GILLIBRAND: U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced they are delivering $33,720,260 in new federal funding to upgrade airport facilities and equipment at Upstate New York airports. This federal funding was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). These grants will fund infrastructure projects, including ones that enhance airfield safety, modernize and upgrade taxiways, and prepare New York airports for winter. “Keeping our airports in top-notch shape is crucial to attracting business and tourism to Upstate New York. With winter approaching, it is more important than ever to ensure our airports are prepared for whatever winter storms come our way. I’m proud to deliver more than $33 million in federal funding to help our airports, from Elmira to Syracuse, invest in key safety upgrades and modernization efforts,” said Senator Schumer. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law is continuing to help improvements at New York’s airports take off. I’ll always continue to fight to deliver federal resources to help our local economies reach new heights.”
“I am proud to announce more than $33 million in federal funding to improve airports across New York State,” said Senator Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee. “From expanded deicing pads that keep flights running safely during winter storms to essential snow removal equipment and runway upgrades, this new round of FY26 AIP grants will modernize airport infrastructure in communities statewide, enhancing reliability and travel efficiency for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. I will always fight to bring home the funding that our airports need to ensure safety and operate at the highest standard.”
The Elmira/Corning Regional Airport is getting $11,080,483. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of the construction of 3,250 feet. This project reconstructs 8,000 feet of existing Runway 6/24 lighting that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction of 3,250 feet. This project rehabilitates 8,000 feet of existing paved Runway 6/24 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life.
The Wellsville Airport is getting $1,619,172. This project rehabilitates 5,700 feet of existing paved Taxiway A to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life. This grant funds the final phase, which consists of construction.
September 14, 2026
FROM REP. LANGWORTHY: Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced $13,532,819 in federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for critical infrastructure improvements at three airports across New York’s 23rd Congressional District. The grants will support runway and taxiway rehabilitation projects designed to maintain the structural integrity of existing pavement, improve safety and reliability, and extend the useful life of critical airport infrastructure. “This significant $13.6 million investment will help ensure our airports across the Southern Tier and Western New York have the safe, reliable infrastructure they need to serve our communities and support economic growth,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “Strong aviation infrastructure is essential for connecting our communities, supporting local businesses and keeping our region competitive. I’m proud to help bring these federal resources home and will continue working to make sure our region gets its fair share.”
The specific grants include: $11,080,483 for Elmira/Corning Regional Airport in Elmira, awarded to Chemung County. The funding will support the second phase of construction to rehabilitate 8,000 feet of existing paved Runway 6/24, which has reached the end of its useful life, as well as reconstruct its runway lighting. The project will help maintain the structural integrity of the runway and minimize foreign object debris.
$1,619,172 for Wellsville Municipal/Tarantine Field in Wellsville, awarded to the Town of Wellsville. The funding will support the final construction phase of a project to rehabilitate 5,700 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, maintaining pavement integrity, minimizing foreign object debris and extending its useful life.
$833,164 for Akron/Jesson Field in Akron, awarded to Christian Airmen Inc. The funding will support the final construction phase of a project to rehabilitate 3,268 feet of existing paved Runway 7/25, helping maintain its structural integrity, minimize foreign object debris and extend the runway’s useful life.
The funding was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s FY2026 Airport Improvement Program, which provides federal resources for airport infrastructure projects.
September 14, 2026
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that energy rebate checks up to $200 will be sent to 8.2 million households across New York State starting on September 21. Checks will be mailed directly to eligible New Yorkers, with deliveries to continue through December. There is no need to apply, sign up or do anything to receive a check. “As Washington Republicans continue to send the cost of everything from utility bills to gas and groceries soaring, I’ll never stop working to address the rising cost of living for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “Too many families are struggling with rising household energy bills and soaring gas prices at the pump — and that’s why we’re putting money directly back in New Yorkers’ pockets by sending energy rebate checks to millions of families as part of our affordability agenda.”
Governor Hochul’s enacted budget included a one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) to help provide needed relief in the face of federal tariffs that have increased the cost of living across the board and President Trump’s war in Iran that has New Yorkers now paying on average $4.35 per gallon at the pumps, a 45% jump since the war began. Diesel has jumped 49% since the war began at the end of February to $5.98 per gallon. POWER checks will provide $200 to joint filers with incomes under $150,000 and $150 to joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000. Single filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive $100. The rebates will be issued as advanced credit checks and will be mailed out between September and December.
Who’s Eligible for a POWER Check?
You are eligible for a rebate credit check if, for tax year 2024, you:
Filed a timely New York State Resident Income Tax Return;
Were a full-time resident for New York State;
Reported income within the qualifying thresholds; and
Were not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.
September 14, 2026
FROM REP. TENNEY: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz outlining recommendations to help the Trump administration establish a meaningful and predictable Medicare payment incentive for hospitals and clinics that use American-made essential medicines. As co-chair of the American-Made Medicines Caucus, Tenney is leading efforts with six Republican colleagues to expand domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, secure America’s medical supply chain, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign adversaries for critical medicines. Earlier this year, CMS requested public input on ways to encourage hospitals participating in Medicare to purchase domestically manufactured essential medicines and other critical medical supplies.
Building on the Trump administration’s efforts, Tenney recommended:
Providing predictable payments tied to providers’ actual use of qualifying American-made medicines;
Establishing and regularly updating a CMS Essential Medicines List based on clinical need and supply-chain vulnerabilities; and
Recognizing both finished medicines manufactured in the United States and domestically produced active pharmaceutical ingredients.
These reforms would make American-made medicines more competitive, encourage greater use of existing domestic manufacturing capacity, and give manufacturers the certainty they need to invest in expanded production. Strengthening domestic production would also reduce the risk that drug shortages or disruptions to foreign supply chains delay care for American patients.
“President Trump’s administration is taking important steps to rebuild our domestic pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure America is never dependent on foreign adversaries for the essential medicines our patients need,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “A clear and reliable Medicare incentive would encourage hospitals and clinics to buy American while giving manufacturers the certainty they need to expand production here at home.”
“As co-chair of the American-Made Medicines Caucus, I look forward to working with Secretary Kennedy, Administrator Oz, and the Trump administration to protect patients, support American workers, and secure our nation’s medical supply chain.”
September 14, 2026
FROM NYSP: On Sept. 10, 2026, at approximately 2:12 a.m., Troopers from SP Painted Post responded to Guthrie Corning Hospital on Guthrie Drive in the town of Corning for a report of a violent patient. The investigation determined that Curtis M. Kent, age 61, Bath, NY, was being discharged from the hospital when he allegedly became disorderly and attempted multiple times to strike a nurse. Kent was subsequently moved to the hospital lobby to await transportation. While in the waiting area, Kent allegedly picked up an end table and threw it into a vending machine, damaging the table. When hospital security personnel intervened, Kent allegedly removed a plastic wet-floor sign holder from a wall, held it in a threatening manner and threatened security personnel. Kent then allegedly struck a security officer in the abdomen with the object.
Security personnel were able to restrain Kent until Troopers arrived. Kent was taken into custody and transported to SP Painted Post, where he was charged with:
Two counts of assault in the second degree
Menacing in the second degree;
Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; and
Criminal mischief in the fourth degree.
Kent was transported to the Steuben County Jail for centralized arraignment.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted with the investigation.
September 13, 2026
“Twenty-five years ago, our nation was forever changed by the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were murdered, families were shattered, and our sense of safety was shaken to its core. But in our darkest hour, we also witnessed the extraordinary courage and selflessness of the American people. We remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other first responders who ran toward danger while others ran from it. We remember the brave passengers and crew of Flight 93 who fought back against their hijackers and sacrificed their lives to prevent another attack. And we remember the first responders from across the country, including many from Western New York, who traveled to Ground Zero to help with the recovery effort and have carried the physical and emotional scars of that day ever since.
We also remember the generation of Americans who answered the call to defend our nation in the wars that followed, and the countless ordinary Americans who stepped forward to help their neighbors in the days and weeks after the attacks. Twenty-five years later, we must never forget the unity that emerged from that tragedy. On September 12, Americans did not agree on every issue, but we remembered that what united us was far greater than what divided us. That spirit of American unity is something we should strive to reclaim today. As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 during the year of America’s 250th anniversary, we are reminded of the generations of Americans who have fought, served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom. We have a responsibility to pass those stories on, especially to the millions of Americans who were not yet born or were too young to remember. We owe it to those we lost, to those who sacrificed, and to the families who continue to carry that loss. We must remember what happened, honor the heroes who answered the call, and never take the freedoms they defended for granted.
May God bless the United States of America.
Sincerely,
Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy
Member of Congress
September 12, 2026
FROM THE US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury has convicted Simon Gogolack a/k/a Greek, 42, of Wellsville, NY, of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of fentanyl, which resulted in a death, narcotics conspiracy, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, kidnapping and witness tampering. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum of life. According to testimony presented by the Government, between July 2 and October 17, 2023, Gogolack conspired with others to sell fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, Xanax, and Adderall. Between July 31 and August 1, 2023, Gogolack distributed fentanyl, which resulted in the death of Crystal Quinn. During the course of the conspiracy, Gogolack used a Scott Avenue residence in Wellsville to conduct his drug trafficking activities. In addition, Gogolack possessed firearms during the conspiracy. He was previously convicted of a felony in 2007 and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. Gogolack was also convicted of kidnapping and threatening an individual and threatening a second individual to prevent them from cooperating with investigators.
“Today’s verdict ensures that Simon Gogolack is being held accountable for the violence and devastation his drug trafficking brought into our community and reflects the commitment by my office to pursue and prosecute those that engage in such conduct” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper, Casey L. Chalbeck, and Katerina Powers. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II. Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2027, before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, who presided over the trial of the case.
September 12, 2026
By Senator Tom O’Mara
An economic impact study commissioned by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) three years ago, “Tax Savings and Economic Value of Volunteer Firefighters in New York,” has highlighted the reality New York State’s communities face, especially Upstate, if we don’t act to address the daunting challenge of recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters and EMTs.
As stated in the FASNY report, “New York State as a whole relies heavily on volunteer fire departments. Of its 1,795 municipal fire departments, 89% are volunteer. Volunteer firefighters are most prevalent in smaller, suburban, and rural communities that have a lesser tax base than larger towns and cities. That these communities rely on volunteers testifies to cost savings from volunteer departments, and conversion to paid departments would be a particular burden for these localities.”
FASNY found that the state’s 100,000 volunteer firefighters save local property taxpayers nearly $4 billion annually. And that’s not all. The report also highlighted that:
> an additional 31,000 career firefighters would be necessary to convert to an all-paid service statewide;
> the annual cost of an all-career service would be $4.7 billion;
> there would be a one-time cost of $8.2 billion to acquire existing stations/structures, vehicles, and equipment — approximately 1,300 stations would have to be built new or reconstructed; and
> property taxes would rise an average of nearly 30% statewide and far higher than that for most of the counties within the 58th Senate District: Allegany (53%), Chemung (51%), Schuyler (49%), Seneca (77%), Steuben (52%), Tioga (44%), and Yates (34%).
Of course, the impact of risking the future of our volunteer fire departments and EMTs goes far beyond the economic consequences. Far beyond. These volunteer departments have long stood as the bedrock of many communities, not just in the context of emergency response, but in the equally vital roles of community development and service, civic pride, and the overall sense of well-being so critical to every community.
It’s no secret that New York’s volunteer firefighter ranks have plunged by 33% over the last two decades, leaving roughly 80,000 active personnel. It’s the reason why every spring, local volunteer fire departments across the region and statewide open their doors during FASNY’s annual RecruitNY Weekend to raise public awareness of the challenge – and the importance – of keeping these doors open.
Consequently, the challenge of recruiting volunteer firefighters and EMTs deserves all the attention it gets. Keeping our corps of emergency services volunteers strong must be a statewide priority.
RecruitNY sounds the alarm and accomplishes these goals very effectively. There are bright spots on the horizon. A statewide survey last year revealed that two-thirds of respondents planned to visit their local fire station to gain more information on becoming a volunteer. The survey also reinforced the fact that volunteer firefighters and EMS providers — and the essential role they perform in the community — are held in high esteem with 98% of respondents agreeing that “volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services are important for the health and safety of my community.”
Together with regional state Assemblymen Phil Palmesano and Chris Friend, we have long sponsored legislation known as the “Omnibus Emergency Services Volunteer Incentive Act,” to provide a series of tax and other incentives to help address the recruitment and retention challenge. Our legislation has been part of ongoing state-level efforts by FASNY and others to keep drawing attention to a challenge that so many of us recognize, on a bipartisan basis, poses a property tax crisis in waiting and other crises for so many communities.
Now, finally, we’re on the doorstep of taking an important step to meet the challenge head on.
During the 2026 legislative session, the Senate and Assembly, with unanimous bipartisan support, approved legislation I have long supported and proudly co-sponsored (S6233/A6790) to increase the state’s volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker income tax credit from $200 to $800 — the first increase since the program was established in 2006 — while also eliminating restrictions that currently prevent volunteers from receiving both the state tax credit and any locally authorized property tax exemptions.
FASNY First Vice President Donald J. Farrell, said, “This is a transformational moment for volunteer emergency services in New York State. Quadrupling the volunteer firefighter and EMS tax credit from $200 to $800 sends a powerful message that New York recognizes the critical role volunteers play in protecting communities every day. Combined with allowing volunteers to receive both the state income tax credit and local property tax exemptions, this legislation delivers meaningful, long-overdue support for the tens of thousands of volunteers who sacrifice their time, leave their families, and answer emergency calls at all hours.”
For this legislation to become law, there’s one step left: Governor Hochul needs to sign it once it’s delivered to her desk, which it will be before the end of the year. Toward that end, FASNY encourages supporters to contact Governor Hochul and urge her to sign the measure into law. The governor can be contacted:
By phone: 518-474-8390;
By e-mail via the following link to the Governor’s contact page: https://governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form; or
By mail: The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State, NYS State Capitol, Albany, New York 12224