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The Grief In Giving End-Of-Life Care

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The type of care they give is intimate—bathing, hand-holding, talking for hours, praying, painting nails, back rubs. The relationship can become close, but then, a few weeks or months later, the resident dies.

App NEWS

Haircuts Are Phase 2

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Broome County’s Executive Jason Garnar said if the region continues to fulfill the reopening criteria set by the state, it could see Phase 2 on May 29th.

App NEWS

Owego Awarded $10 Million From State Fund To Revitalize Downtowns

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VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — Owego was awarded $10 million dollars as part of New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, or DRI. Owego is in Tioga County. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the various projects. They are meant to boost the local economy by attracting new businesses while strengthening existing ones, repair infrastructure, enhance recreational opportunities, and address the demand for affordable housing. The money will go toward 17 projects.

Hear Here! | Compassion Harp

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Sometimes music helps people communicate when they can’t use words. Jayne Demakos of Compassion Harp is a therapeutic harpist. Every weekend, she visits a nursing home to play for the people facing both physical or emotional challenges. 

In this segment, we tag along on one of her visits.

Arts

Hear Here! | Chocolate Music

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In this bonus episode of ‘Hear Here!’ listen as WSKG’s Sam Goodyear talks about how music can be used to intrigue and build anticipation in an original piece he calls ‘Chocolate Music’.

Arts

Hear Here! | Let’s Listen Together

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This episode is all about sharing and listening. Moms, Dads and their kids share music they like. They talk about why they like it, and how it makes them feel. We also meet therapeutic harpist Jayne Demakos who plays for people living in a nursing home. 

This episode was produced by Dan Davis. Sarah Gager is the Executive Producer.

Arts

Hear Here! | Biddle De Bop

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How is voice used in jazz? We’ll learn about improvisations, other vocal techniques, and listen to some big band singing. We will also hear from Catherine Gale, an Ithaca, NY based jazz singer and teacher. Biddle De Bop was produced by Celia Clarke and edited by Gabe Altieri. Additional editing support comes from Monica Sandreczki.

Arts

Hear Here! | A One-Woman Show?

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During a tech rehearsal of the theatre piece “Bitter Banquet” we will hear from Ithaca-based composer/performer Annie Lewandowski who is at home with both classical music and rock.  We will learn about the journey from composition to performance, and how many people it takes to present a “one-woman” show. A One-Woman Show? was produced by Bill Snyder and edited by Monica Sandreczki. Additional support comes from Nancy Coddington.

Education

Hear Here! | LOL

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Some people think that classical music is lifeless and boring. They might be in for some surprises during this episode of Hear Here! Classical music can be amusing, funny, or just plain wacky, like the soundtrack of a crazy cartoon. We will discover how music can actually make us laugh. LOL was produced by Sam Goodyear and edited by Gabe Altieri.

Arts

Hear Here! | Can’t Never Did Nothing

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Come along as singer-songwriter Joe Crookston explores the world of music, sound and songwriting! What kind of sound do various instruments make? How do stories and sounds then turn into songs? Let’s find out together! Can’t Never Did Nothing was produced by Crystal Sarakas and edited by Gabe Altieri.

News

Trade Unwanted Guns For Groceries

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On Saturday morning, people can trade their guns for groceries. Between 9AM and noon, anyone can bring in unwanted, working firearms to Binghamton’s American Civic Association in exchange for a gift certificate.

Elections

24 Women Filed For Congressional Primaries in Pennsylvania

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More women than ever are running for Congress nationwide, according to a recent report from the Associated Press. That number is also staggering in Pennsylvania, a state with no female representatives in congress. In fact, the state has had few women in its congressional history. Adelina Lancianese reports.

ACA Shooting Nine Years Ago Today

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“It’s one of the challenges of the human spirit – developing a positive outlook in the face of the fact that we’re all going to die and birth is a fatal disease,” said David Marsland, whose wife was killed in the attack. “It’s a question of how you live as opposed to how you die.

Education

Hear Here! | Found Sound

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Traditional instruments are not necessary to make music! In this episode: an orchestra who plays vegetables, a professor who builds instruments using found objects, and a pioneer of early electronic music, Delia Derbyshire, who would record a seemingly simple sound and then manipulate that tape to create complex music. Plus, WSKG staffers compose a song, but their only instruments are things they can find on their desks! (Produced by Sarah Gager)

Feeling inspired? Check out these activities for at-home or classroom!

classical music

Hear Here! | Birdsong: The Story and Music of Hikari Oe

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Hikari Oe is a contemporary Japanese composer, known for his charming short pieces for piano, flute, and violin. He was born with autism. It was the songs of birds that awakened him to the larger world and led to his development as a musician. Narrated by two young performers, Birdsong tells the story of Hikari Oe’s spiritual and professional triumph. (Produced by Sam Goodyear)

Classroom Discussion Prompts (Post-Listen)

~Where was Hikari Oe born?

Hear Here! Teaser

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Hear Here! is a music appreciation podcast for kids (K-5)! In this 5 episode season, we’ll explore different genres of music and the various ways music affects our lives.

mlk

A Day of Service: Celebrating MLK Day

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Every third Monday of January, the nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth and service of racial and economic equality. This year, the holiday falls on what would have been King’s 89th birthday. MLK Day was first observed in 1986, and, in 1994, Senator and civil rights leader John Lewis of Georgia sponsored the King Holiday and Service Act, making the holiday one to encourage people to volunteer in their communities. The Corporation for National and Community Service says the holiday : “[…] calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a ‘Beloved Community.'”

The All for Good website has a list of volunteer opportunities.

Education

New York Awards $400K For Farm-To-School Projects In Finger Lakes, Southern Tier

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Education groups in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes will share $400,000 to use for farm-to-school projects. Among the awardees: Broome-Tioga BOCES, Sidney Central School District and the Cornell Cooperative Extensions serving Steuben and Seneca counties. The Farm-to-School program, funded through the FY 2017-2018 state budget and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Program, is meant to connect kindergarten through grade 12 schools with local farms.

The governor proposed an expansion to this program in his 2018 State of the State Address and announced the awards last week.

Education

If Expanded, Farm-To-School Plan Would Offer Students Healthy Meals, Farmers A Diverse Market

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As part of his 2018 State of the State address, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing to double the funding for a program that connects schools with local farmers, Farm-to-School. The state currently spends $750,000 on the program, and Cuomo wants to increase that to $1.5 million. The money can go toward capital costs for transporting and storing food, supporting training, and to hiring farm-to-school coordinators. One incentive under the proposal: The state will reimburse districts a quarter per meal if they get 30 percent of the ingredients from New York farms. That’s compared to the six cents they get now. “It really helps [farmers] diversify their business.

Broome Legislature

Broome Legislature Approves Funding For Addiction Treatment Center

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In front of a standing room only crowd, the Broome County Legislature voted to accept New York state funding for an addiction treatment center on Wednesday. The nearly $2.7 million comes through the state’s Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, or OASAS. The facility will be located at the former Broome County Developmental Center in Binghamton. It’s expected to be hold 50 beds for supervised withdrawal and stabilization. Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare will provide services.

Cuomo Criticizes Reporter Over Question On Sexual Assault Policy For State Government

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Listen to the excerpt on sexual assault policy from the Q&A. At a Q&A with reporters Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo criticized public radio reporter, Karen DeWitt, saying she’s minimizing the issue of sexual assault by asking him what he’d do to address it in state government. Back in November, a woman accused the former head of the state’s economic development agency – Sam Hoyt – of sexually assaulting her. She also said the Cuomo administration knew about it, but didn’t do anything. Cuomo’s lawyer says they investigated it.

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News

Halloween Safety Can Keep Your Pets From Getting Tricked

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It’s Halloween and pet owners are making sure their cats and dogs stay safe. Sheryl and her owner Katie Kanazawich live on Binghamton’s West Side. Sheryl is a Plott Hound mix who is excitable and sweet, and loves to dress up. “When you bring [her clothes] out, she knows they’re hers, she wags her tail and gets excited to wear it,” Katie said. Sheryl has holiday themed shirts and an airplane costume.

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News

Imperium3 Plans Move Into Old IBM Site

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Manufacturing will return to the vacant IBM site in Endicott. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that lithium ion batteries will be made on the Huron Campus.    Joining in the consortium of three companies locating in Endicott is C4V. When New York held its first ever 76West Clean Energy Competition, C4V’s new battery storage technology earned a $500,000 prize.  Within five years, Dr. Shalilesh Upreti, president of C4V, said they will hire and train 232 employees. “Because there is no manufacturing as high scale like this today in the US, we have been bringing folks from overseas—especially from Japan and Korea—for the training purpose,” Upreti said.

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New Head Appointed For Broome County’s Public Nursing Home

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Consultants have recommended closing Willow Point Nursing Home in Vestal, New York, but now it’s close to having another permanent director. Broome County Executive Jason Garner appointed Ryan LaClair on Tuesday. LaClair was most recently at the Country Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage. In his time at that facility, he improved the quality to a five-star rating based on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Quality Measures. Willow Point has been without a permanent leader for four months now. The county-run nursing home had a budget in the red for years.

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In The 1920s, Binghamton Was NYS Headquarters For KKK

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The Binghamton area is often associated with the letters “IBM” but what about “KKK”? In the 1920s, Binghamton was the New York State headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan. While a student at Binghamton University, Jay Rubin began researching the topic. He wrote the book The Forgotten Kapital: The KKK in Binghamton 1923-1928. He spoke with WSKG’s Sarah Gager. Interview highlights

On the 1920s version of the Ku Klux Klan:

Jay Rubin: The Klan of the 1920s sought to be a national organization.

News

Chronic Wasting Disease Still A Threat In NY, Despite Few Cases

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  The carcass of a deer being tested for disease at the necropsy lab Cornell University. Dr. Elizabeth Buckles can tell by looking at this deer that it did not die from Chronic Wasting Disease. Deer infected become emaciated. Credit Sarah Gager / WSKG News At the Cornell University diagnostics lab, a brain sample is being taken from the corpse of a deer. This is where deer are tested for Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. This deer was acting dazed, walking in circles in a resident’s backyard.

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News

This Huge Plant Can Cause Burns, Blindness

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    Giant Hogweed is an invasive plant that can be dangerous to your health and the environment. New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation has a hotline to call if you think you see the plant. The state even has a Giant Hogweed Control Crew.   Alexander Wyatt is on the crew. On a recent trip to Candor, NY, he and a partner cleared younger, smaller plants from a residence.

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Out Late Tonight? You Can Grab An Uber

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Ride-hailing apps are authorized to operate in upstate New York starting today. Apps like Lyft and Uber had been bound to the New York City area until now. James Pontez in Ithaca said he thinks it will be a popular job among college students. It gives them another option for temporary work. “I mean, I’m sure some people don’t always want to deliver pizza,” he explained, “Sometimes they’d rather pick up a person.”

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News

How They Voted On ACA Repeal And Replace: Southern Tier Edition

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   The House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act Thursday. The count was 217 to 213.  As for the local Congressional delegation, here’s how they voted:  Yes Republican Tom Reed (NY-23rd) Republican Claudia Tenney (NY-22nd) Republican John Faso (NY-19) No Republican John Katko (NY-24).Interview highlights: On Congressman Reed: Bret Jaspers: He voted ‘Yes’ to this bill. That wasn’t much of a surprise because he’s close to the leadership of the House, he’s close to President Trump. Here’s what he told reporters earlier this week. Tom Reed: I do believe the language is protective of the pre-existing condition especially coming from New York State. And knowing what New York State will do when it comes to the ability to have health care regulations in place for our residents.

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Some NYS Taxpayers Eligible For Free E-Filing Help

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New Yorkers making less than $64,000 a year can receive free help filing taxes electronically. The state tax department is holding some day-long events where trained assistants help people file online. James Gazzale, a spokesperson for the New York State Tax Department, said 92 percent of residents file electronically, and this program offers help navigating the state’s website. “The tax department program allows the [taxpayers] themselves to input all their information and educate themselves on how to file a return,” Gazzale explained, “so they’re more comfortable doing it in the future.” The state’s filing software, and a list of where and when you can get free help, is on their website.

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Mercy House Turns One

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A year ago, Mercy House in Endicott opened its doors to terminally ill patients of the Southern Tier. Since the former St. Casimir’s Church was converted into Mercy House, over a hundred people have called it home. Linda Cerra is the executive director of Mercy House. She said their services are free and the operation is successful because of donations from the community. “We learned there’s a need for Mercy House in the community,” she explained.

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Here’s What You Need To Know About April The Giraffe

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The latest internet sensation, April the Giraffe, is expecting a calf. It will be her fourth. The 15-year old giraffe is drawing a lot of attention to the Animal Adventure Zoo in Harpursville, NY. The Stream

A video stream from her pen at the zoo went live on Wednesday, and as of this writing, has over 75,000 current viewers. Vice even wrote about the stream saying, “You can watch one of the world’s goofiest mammals pop out a baby and be distracted briefly from the growing hellscape that is our current world.”

Music

New York Met Unveils 2017-18 Opera Season

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WSKG Public Media will again present the New York Metropolitan Opera’s 87th consecutive Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast season.  These live broadcasts commonly begin in early afternoon on WSKG Radio. It kicks off on December 2, 2017 with a live broadcast of Verdi’s Requiem and continues through the May 5 matinee of Roméo et Juliette. The broadcast season will once again be heard live over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network. Mary Jo Heath returns for her third season as host and Ira Siff returns for his 11th season as commentator for the broadcasts, which feature a range of dynamic intermission features, live backstage interviews with artists, and the ever-popular Opera Quiz. The Metropolitan Opera’s full 2017-18 season will feature 220 performances of 26 works, including two Met premieres.

Dear Future President… Sincerely, Tiger Ventures School

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Letters to the Next President is a nationwide, non-partisan writing project which allows us a little insight into what’s on the minds of America’s young people. 8th and 9th graders at Tiger Ventures school in Endicott recorded their letters. These are some of their questions and concerns for the next president. Read more letters from the students at Tiger Ventures here.

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Women To March In The Southern Tier, Too

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Hundreds of thousands of people are headed to D.C. for the inauguration and for the Women’s March on Washington. WSKG caught up with one group in the Southern Tier and Northern Pennsylvania as they prepared for the voyage. Twin Tiers to D.C. is what the group is calling themselves. Last weekend, they got ready for the march by making posters with phrases like “We’ll show you nasty.”
Angela Button’s poster says, “Feminism: back by popular demand.” She’s a student in Corning and was at President Obama’s inauguration in 2012. “That was really inspiring at that point,” she said, “so this is a cool experience to go back to D.C. kind of in a different light to say, “No, we’re not going to stop.

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Binghamton School District Seeks New Leader After Trying Year

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Binghamton City School District’s superintendent was dismissed last March. There have been a couple of interim superintendents since then, but now the district is searching for a more permanent leader. David Hawley is the president of the Binghamton School Board. He spoke with WSKG’s Sarah Gager about the search, which he says will conclude with a selection in the Spring. Interview highlights:

What is the new superintendent stepping into?

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Lupardo On Seniors, Parking Garage Safety And Childcare

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Lawmakers returned to Albany for the 2017 legislative session. Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo represents the 123rd district, which includes the city of Binghamton and the towns of Vestal and Union. She joined us to discuss the session and her new role as Chair of the Committee on Aging. Interview highlights:

What do you want to get done in your new role? Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo: Being someone who is over 60 myself and having gone throw the death of my parents, I’m sensitive to a couple of big things: making sure that those individuals who need services and programs have those available, but also, as people are living longer and healthier lives and want to stay more active, that we’re paying attention to that, too.

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How Art Can Help Us Recall Emotional Memories

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Memories come back to us through emotional experiences. That’s how Christina Muscatello, founder of the Memory Maker Project, thinks of it. She explained it like this: you hear a song and it makes you feel something. Then, you think back to your middle school dance, and the first time you slow danced. “You would have never had a moment to access that memory without having that emotional tie,” Muscatello said.