Pre-pandemic, this was the time of year when sugar shanties across the state opened their doors to allow the public to see first hand how sap becomes maple syrup. But for the second consecutive year, the New York State Maple Producers Association, organizers of the statewide Maple Weekends, has canceled the event.
âOur Board of Directors has been actively monitoring all official information concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our ability to safely conduct public events like Maple Weekend,â Executive Director Helen Thomas wrote in a statement issued by the association. âWe recognize our obligation to public safety for any event that we officially promote and sponsor across all of our regions. Therefore, the board has unanimously decided to cancel the statewide official Maple Weekend for 2021.â
CARTHAGE — From the paintings on the ceiling, to the stained glass windows, from the stations of the cross to the carvings on the altar, art is in abundance at
WEST CARTHAGE â Following a public hearing at the February meeting, the town of Champion board passed a local law naming a Community Choice Aggregation Energy Program administrator.
As explained by Javier Barrios from Good Energy, the local law authorizes the municipality to collect data from suppliers with the assistance of a Public Service Commission-approved administrator.
The purpose of the data collection is to review costs for the bulk purchase of electricity and natural gas in order to contract to purchase the commodities on behalf of the residents of the town if a savings can be recognized.
The adoption of the local law does not obligate the town board to enter into a contract to purchase the commodities. If a contract was signed, residents would continue to receive their billing from National Grid. National Grid would continue to deliver the electricity and/or natural gas and there would be a mandatory 60-day outreach to residents at no cost to the town. Residents ma