Oswego Health says first robotically assisted surgery performed at its surgery center

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health says it had the system’s first robotically assisted surgery using the recently purchased da Vinci Xi surgical system. Dr. Kenneth Cooper — a robotically trained bariatric surgeon with the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery — was the first to use the da Vinci Xi system at Oswego Health’s surgery […]

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health says it had the system’s first robotically assisted surgery using the recently purchased da Vinci Xi surgical system.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper — a robotically trained bariatric surgeon with the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery — was the first to use the da Vinci Xi system at Oswego Health’s surgery center, the health system announced.

“This additional surgical option will improve clinical outcomes and has significant advantages to our patients,” Cooper said in the announcement. “I’m thrilled that Oswego Health has made this investment as we strive to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

Its creator designed the da Vinci Xi system to further advance the technology used in minimally invasive surgery. A surgeon can use the system across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures. It has also been optimized for multi-quadrant surgeries performed at Oswego Health in the areas of bariatric, general surgery, and urology, the health system noted.

The da Vinci Xi system provides the precision and visibility needed to take on more complex procedures via remotely operated surgical tools that are inserted through small incisions in the patient. Benefits of robotic surgery include shorter post-surgery hospital stays, faster recovery times, lower probability of complications, and less need for opioid painkillers.

“At Oswego Health, we care about making investments in patient care. The da Vinci System is state-of-the-art technology that will extend our surgeons’ capabilities in a way that will be safer, less invasive, and more efficient,” Michael Backus, president & CEO of Oswego Health, said in the health system’s announcement. “I expect that our patients will notice the results and this will be another step for Oswego Health to demonstrate the quality of healthcare offered in our hospital. Expanding into robotic surgery at Oswego Health allows us to continue our commitment to be the very best for our patients.”

Tioga State Bank to open Johnson City branch

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JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — Tioga State Bank (TSB) will open a new branch in Johnson City later this summer. It will be the bank’s fifth location in the greater Binghamton area, where it already has two branches in Binghamton, one in Vestal, and one in Endwell. “We are thrilled to open this office in the

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Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr.

Oneida County Childcare Taskforce outlines recommendations to improve childcare

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UTICA, N.Y. — A report by the Oneida County Childcare Taskforce made a number of recommendations to improve childcare in the county including initiatives to

Cayuga Health, CRC announce affiliation agreement

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ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Health System (CHS), based in Ithaca, and Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes (CRC), located in the village of Cayuga Heights, have announced an affiliation agreement that went into effect on July 1. “The Cayuga Cancer Center has worked closely with CRC for decades. The Cayuga Health team is very

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“The Cayuga Cancer Center has worked closely with CRC for decades. The Cayuga Health team is very pleased to announce this enhancement of our relationship,” Dr. Martin Stallone, CEO of Cayuga Health, said in the July 11 announcement. “The affiliation ensures that the critical support services CRC has provided to cancer patients in our community will continue for decades into the future. With additional resources of the health system, CHS expects to enhance and grow the support services CRC provides to those in our community.”

CRC was founded as the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance in 1994, CHS said.

In the last 20 years, CRC’s mission has evolved to “create and sustain an inclusive community of support” for people living with and affected by various kinds of cancer. The CRC board of directors has made the decision to affiliate to “ensure the financial sustainability of the important services” the organization brings to those facing cancer in the region.

“The Cancer Resource Center team provides one-on-one personalized support and facilitates support groups to make sure that no one in our area faces cancer alone,” Jerry Dietz, president of the CRC board of directors. “The affiliation with Cayuga Health will introduce efficiencies, allowing more of the money raised for CRC to directly support the care of patients and continue our mission-based work.”

Donations previously received by CRC and those raised in the future will directly benefit the CRC programming. The CRC signature fundraising Walkathon and 5K will be held again this year on Oct. 5, CHS said.

“The efforts of Cayuga Health Cancer Center and Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes have a natural synergy,” Tom LiVigne, chairman of the Cayuga Health System board of directors, said in the announcement. “But be assured, all oncology patients and survivors in the community will continue to have access to CRC services, no matter where they receive care. Cayuga Health is pleased to ensure the longevity of the CRC support programs for our entire community.”

MACNY wins $6 million federal grant for advanced-manufacturing apprenticeships

Manufacturing & Engineering, Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only, Technology

DeWITT, N.Y. — MACNY, the Manufacturers Association will use a $6 million federal grant to expand registered apprenticeships for advanced-manufacturing jobs, including those in the semiconductor industry. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the funding, the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced. The new program is expected to help more than

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The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the funding, the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced.

The new program is expected to help more than 800 workers get the training they need to begin careers at companies that include Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU), Wolfspeed, Indium, and other regional manufacturers, Schumer’s office said.

“The New York Registered Apprenticeship Hub – Registered Apprenticeship Manufacturing Partnerships (NY-RAMP) will allow manufacturers from across the state to provide career pathways in high-need areas to individuals from all backgrounds,” Randy Wolken, president and CEO of MACNY, said in Schumer’s announcement. “This will foster growth across all manufacturing sectors — new companies relocating to New York in emerging fields like semiconductor and nanotechnology, biotechnology, and clean energy and legacy manufacturers who have been the backbone our economy for generations. This effort is only possible because of the strength of federal and state officials, our Manufacturing Alliance of New York partners, and the nearly 100 industrial, academic, and community partners who support this program. We especially want to recognize the continued advocacy of Senator Schumer to strengthen American manufacturing and the workforce needed to meet New York’s manufacturing moment.”

Schumer explained that with this funding, DeWitt–based MACNY plans to expand its programs in a new effort called the New York Registered Apprenticeship Manufacturing Partnerships (NY-RAMP) program.

Building on MACNY’s Manufacturers Intermediary Apprenticeship Program (MIAP), NY-RAMP will expand MIAP efforts to “promote equitable access” to registered apprenticeship programs for all individuals, “regardless of their work experience or academic qualifications,” Schumer’s office said.

HUD awards $50 million to help redevelop Syracuse public housing near I-81

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) and the City of Syracuse will use a $50 million federal grant to improve the East Adams neighborhood near Interstate 81 (I-81) in the City’s 15th Ward. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative program, U.S. Senate Majority

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Parking garage for Wynn Hospital set to open

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UTICA, N.Y. — Nearly nine months after Wynn Hospital opened in downtown Utica, its promised parking garage is set to open, according to an email newsletter from Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). The parking garage, owned by Oneida County, opens Monday, July 15 to MVHS employees, physicians, and volunteers. There is no charge for anyone

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State comptroller audit finds Dolgeville village treasurer failed to maintain adequate records

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DOLGEVILLE, N.Y. — An audit by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office found the Dolgeville village treasurer failed to maintain adequate records and reports that would allow the village board to responsibly manage Dolgeville’s finances. “The treasurer did not record all financial activity using proper accounting procedures,” according to a report released by

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“The treasurer did not record all financial activity using proper accounting procedures,” according to a report released by the comptroller’s office. “As a result, inadequate records and reports were maintained, and the board lacked the financial information necessary to property monitor and manage village finances.”

Specifically, the report noted the treasurer did not properly account for fund balances within each village fund or establish separate capital-project funds to account for the financial activity of projects undertaken, periodically reconcile water and sewer-receivable, control-account balances, provide adequate budget status and balance-sheet reports to the board monthly, or prepare and file the required state annual financial report for the 2019-2020 through 2022-2023 fiscal years.

As a result, auditors from the comptroller’s office made some key recommendations including maintaining complete, accurate, and timely financial records; periodically reconciling receivable-control accounts; providing monthly financial reports to the board; and filing the annual reports as required.

In a June 17, 2024, letter to the state comptroller’s office, Dolgeville Mayor Mary E. Puznowski outlined the measures the village has taken to implement all the recommendations including installing a new software program with a municipal accounting system that allows the village to adopt many of the recommendations. Other remedies include working with a certified public accountant to get the past-due annual reports filed and new policies effective as of June to provide proper reconciliations.

The comptroller’s original audit period covered June 1, 2021, to April 20, 2023, and was then extended through April 23, 2024, to review the annual report filing status.

After the audit, a new treasurer was appointed, effective November 2023.

Casey Christopher

People on the Move

KeyBank has named Casey Christopher senior VP, business banking sales leader for Central New York. In this role, she manages a team of relationship managers

Pathfinder Bancorp to pay latest quarterly dividend in early August

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OSWEGO — Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBHC), the bank holding company of Pathfinder Bank, has declared a cash dividend of 10 cents per share of its common stock. The second-quarter 2024 dividend is payable on Aug. 9 to all shareholders of record on July 19, according to an announcement from James A. Dowd, president and

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