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SUNY Poly names director of career services, experiential learning
MARCY — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) recently promoted Michael Badolato to director of career services and experiential learning. In this new role, Badolato, who previously served as the university’s career services coordinator, will develop a model in which students participate with employers in project-based and experiential learning opportunities, according to a SUNY Poly release. […]
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MARCY — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) recently promoted Michael Badolato to director of career services and experiential learning.
In this new role, Badolato, who previously served as the university’s career services coordinator, will develop a model in which students participate with employers in project-based and experiential learning opportunities, according to a SUNY Poly release. Specifically, employers and students will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams on new advancements and solve real-word problems.
“Michael Badolato continues to be a tremendous asset to SUNY Poly,” VP for Student Affairs Jennifer Adams said. “His passion for helping our students develop the tools necessary to secure meaningful internship and job opportunities is unmatched, and I know he will continue to thrive in this expanded role.”
Badolato has spent the majority of his professional career working at colleges and universities, in a variety of roles, most of them student focused. He has worked at small and medium-sized private institutions, a Jesuit college, a community college, and previously worked at SUNY Poly, where he was an admissions counselor and the international admissions advisor, before later returning as career services coordinator. Badolato has also worked in other student service roles, including financial aid, disability services, and advising.
Badolato, a Rome native, holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY New Paltz and is completing his master’s degree in information design and technology at SUNY Poly.
SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees — via its four colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences — in engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including biology, game design, mathematics, and social sciences at its campus located in Marcy.
Lockheed Martin’s suburban Syracuse plant wins $60M Navy contract that includes cyber test work
SALINA — Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems in Salina recently won a more than $60 million contract from the U.S. Navy. This pact provides for the production, integration, testing, inspection, fleet introduction, and fielding of four operational-test program sets (OTPS), as well as associated non-recurring engineering, program management, logistics, and engineering development models to
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SALINA — Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems in Salina recently won a more than $60 million contract from the U.S. Navy.
This pact provides for the production, integration, testing, inspection, fleet introduction, and fielding of four operational-test program sets (OTPS), as well as associated non-recurring engineering, program management, logistics, and engineering development models to support the AN/APY-9 radar avionics line replaceable modules (LRM), according to a Sept. 23 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense. It will also support the risk-management framework, authority to operate or assess only, and cyber test requirements for the E-2D Radar OTPSs to be used at the depot-level to provide test and repair capabilities for the LRMs using the electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS), eCASS Power Augmentation Test Set, and specialized test equipment.
Work will be performed in Lockheed’s facility in Salina, just north of Syracuse (67 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (23 percent); and El Segundo, California (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2029, per the contract announcement.
Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds totaling $643,420 and fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds of $59,433,039 will be obligated at the time of the award — all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, New Jersey was the contracting authority.
AIS names business director of mission solutions
ROME — Assured Information Security (AIS) — a Rome–based provider of critical cyber and information-security services, products, and operations to commercial and government customers — recently appointed Robert Westerman as business director of mission solutions. In this position, Westerman leads the direction, growth, and operational effectiveness of AIS in the greater Washington, D.C. area. His
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ROME — Assured Information Security (AIS) — a Rome–based provider of critical cyber and information-security services, products, and operations to commercial and government customers — recently appointed Robert Westerman as business director of mission solutions.
In this position, Westerman leads the direction, growth, and operational effectiveness of AIS in the greater Washington, D.C. area. His expertise will play a crucial role in expanding the firm’s portfolio of specialized services and engineering projects, strengthening relationships with key customers, the company said in a news release.
Prior to joining AIS, Westerman most recently served as senior manager at LT Gen Vince Stewart Innovation Center at KBR in Columbia, Maryland. While there, he spearheaded strategic initiatives and drove innovative solutions in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence/machine learning, 5G, and edge and multi-domain operations.
Westerman holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology.
AIS customers include the U.S. Department of Defense and the intelligence community. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Rome’s Griffiss Business and Technology Park, AIS has multiple operating locations across the U.S. and employs more than 220 people working on advancing the state of cyber and information security to help customers.
OPINION: New York Must Address the Chaos at our Northern Border
Having safe, secure borders is a right every American deserves. The idea that we should be aware of who enters the country has somehow been deemed as negotiable in recent years. It is not, and the rhetoric surrounding these concepts has become dangerous. Recently, the issue has taken on new significance in New York state
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Having safe, secure borders is a right every American deserves. The idea that we should be aware of who enters the country has somehow been deemed as negotiable in recent years. It is not, and the rhetoric surrounding these concepts has become dangerous.
Recently, the issue has taken on new significance in New York state as an influx of illegal immigrants coming across the northern border with Canada has complicated existing issues in upstate communities already dealing with those bused into New York City from the southern border with Mexico. Border Patrol tallied 19,000 migrant encounters in August at the Canada-U.S. border, with just about half entering through New York alone. As such, recent reports indicated confusion and uncertainty as the border remains virtually open, and the problem has not shown any indication it will resolve itself any time soon.
For this reason, members of the Assembly Minority Conference have introduced legislation to repeal the state’s “Green Light Law,” which is contributing to the problems at the border. Assemblyman Scott Gray (R–Watertown), Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C–Black River), and Sen. Dan Stec (R,C–Queensbury) recently stood with law-enforcement officials representing St. Lawrence, Clinton, Franklin, and Jefferson counties to discuss ways to improve border security, including repealing Green Light in border counties.
Current law prohibits the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from sharing departmental records with any agency that primarily enforces immigration law and requires those who have access, including state and local law enforcement, to certify that the use of such records will not be used for civil-immigration purposes or be shared with agencies that primarily enforce immigration law. Our proposal would restore that cooperation, which never should have been inhibited in the first place.
There are many deficiencies with the Green Light Law, aside from it hindering cooperation between law-enforcement agencies. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the law creates an avenue for those with “nefarious intentions” to obtain a “legitimate, state-issued document for identification,” calls for the state to issue such instruments relying on information solely from a foreign government, and it creates many conflicting law-enforcement relationships that hinder public safety and immigration enforcement. In fact, we have been saying this for years.
As a nation, we have always welcomed those looking for a better life. We will continue to do so, but we must also consider the needs of those who live here, pay taxes, and use public services. Right now, Americans do not feel secure, and that is unacceptable. We have always been, and will always be, a beacon of freedom, and the best way to continue to do so is by simply following the laws put in place intended to keep us all safe — immigrants included.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 55, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
OPINION: Trump was right about violent criminals being released into the U.S.
“I say, I told you so.” That was former President Donald Trump’s reaction at a Michigan rally on Sept. 27 [speaking about the new report showing] tens of thousands of violent, convicted criminals being let into the U.S. by the Biden-Harris Department of Homeland Security. That’s according to the latest data from Immigration and Customs
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“I say, I told you so.”
That was former President Donald Trump’s reaction at a Michigan rally on Sept. 27 [speaking about the new report showing] tens of thousands of violent, convicted criminals being let into the U.S. by the Biden-Harris Department of Homeland Security. That’s according to the latest data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released on Sept. 25 via Congressional oversight by U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R–Texas).
The numbers were breathtaking: 13,376 convicted murderers; 16,120 convicted of sexual assault; 64,579 convicted of assault; 43,546 convicted of burglary, larceny or robbery; 13,876 convicted of weapons offenses; 2,606 convicted of kidnapping; and 2,218 convicted of commercialized sexual offenses — all before they ever came to America and were released into the country by the federal government.
According to the House Homeland Security Committee release on Sept. 27, “they had previously been encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), turned over to ICE, had their criminal history documented, and then were released into the United States.”
The vast majority of these convicted criminals — 151,851 out of 156,521, or 97 percent — were not currently detained by ICE, with only 4,670 in detention and subject to removal. Of the convicted murderers, the numbers are even worse: only 277 are in detention, or just 2.2 percent.
The rest are apparently just roaming around. But now Harris is promising that when she is in office — apparently heedless that she has already been in office for almost four years — to complete her border visit checkbox photo opportunity, posted on X on Sept. 29, “As president, I will secure our border, disrupt the flow of fentanyl coming into the United States, and work to fix our broken system of immigration,” Harris said.
But one of the things “broken” is the Biden-Harris administration’s propensity to release convicted criminals into the U.S., simply out of incompetence or worse, on purpose.
The other thing “broken” is public perception that the current Democratic administration even gives a whit about the problem, with Harris upside down on immigration versus Trump. For example, the latest national Quinnipiac poll taken Sept. 19 to Sept. 22, found 53 percent of likely voters saying Trump would do a better job handling immigration and 45 percent saying Harris. That’s consistent across almost all national polls taken the entire election cycle. If the election comes down to immigration, the border, and illegal alien criminals, it might not be close.
Trump found it curious that the numbers were released at all — the letter from ICE as Vice President Kamala Harris made her visit to the U.S. southern border since 2021, stating, “So, these numbers just came out — nobody’s ever seen these numbers for years, nobody’s ever seen them — and probably some patriot in ICE or somebody just did something, they just said the country is going bad, you can’t have a country like that. We have think of it murderers — convicted murderers — imprisoned for life, many get the electric chair or they get whatever their form of death penalty. These are convicted people for life are… now in our country and I can finally look at them and see.”
Allowing unrestricted illegal immigration — since February 2021, there have been 8.3 million encounters by the CBP on the southwest border, the most in recorded U.S. history — will allow a certain percentage of proven criminals, including violent criminals, into the U.S.
So, according to the report, 156,521 out of 8.3 million illegal immigrants — that’s a 1.87 percent violent crime rate — let into the country, are convicted, violent criminals. That’s five times the national violent crime rate — which includes murder, manslaughter, rape and robbery — of 0.36 percent.
Perhaps Kamala Harris does not need to visit the southern border to find out why this is happening, but instead visit the Oval Office, the Department of Homeland Security, and look in the mirror.
Robert Romano is the VP of public policy at Americans for Limited Government, a conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that says it is dedicated to restoring constitutionally limited government, allowing individuals to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
VIEWPOINT: Ask Rusty: Should my Husband File and then Suspend His SS Benefits?
Dear Rusty: My financial advisor recently used a computer program that told my husband to take his Social Security (SS) at age 68, then suspend it after a few months. What I understood was if my husband started and then stopped taking distributions, he would earn delayed retirement credits (DRCs) and thus get more at
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Dear Rusty: My financial advisor recently used a computer program that told my husband to take his Social Security (SS) at age 68, then suspend it after a few months. What I understood was if my husband started and then stopped taking distributions, he would earn delayed retirement credits (DRCs) and thus get more at age 70. I know waiting increases SS amounts, by 8 percent a year, but does purposely starting and then stopping SS increase distributions even more?
Signed: Confused
Dear Confused: Suspending receipt of one’s SS benefits after his full retirement age (FRA) — as in your husband’s case — does result in him earning DRCs, but the DRCs earned accumulate at the same rate as if he simply waited longer to claim his SS benefit in the first place. DRCs are earned up to 70 years of age, at which point your husband’s maximum SS benefit is attained (FYI, DRCs earn 0.667 percent of additional benefit for each month benefits are delayed or suspended, or 8 percent per year). But I see no advantage to your husband starting his benefits now (at age 68) and then suspending them several months later to earn DRCs — the number of DRCs earned are the same in either case, so he could simply wait to apply for his Social Security benefits until he is 70 to get his maximum amount.
The only rationale reason I can think of to claim benefits and then suspend after doing so is to get a few months of his benefit payments before suspending. But the few months in which your husband received benefits before suspending will be considered when he later unsuspends his benefit. So, his total payment amount will be a bit less at age 70 than it would otherwise be if he simply waits longer to claim SS. And, just for information, he can’t “file and suspend” his benefits so that you can receive a spousal benefit from him. That option (to file and suspend, enabling a spouse to receive benefits) was eliminated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 — while your husband’s benefits are suspended, you cannot receive a spousal benefit from him.
So, frankly, I see no advantage to your husband claiming his benefit now and then suspending them a few months later. If his goal is to maximize his SS benefit, then the best way to do that is simply wait longer to claim.
Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.
10 Reasons Your Business Needs Cyber Insurance
1. Cyber crime is the fastest growing crime in the world, but most attacks are not covered by standard property or crime insurance policies. New
Carpenters union formally opens expanded training center in town of Salina
SALINA, N.Y. — The North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC) on Wednesday formally opened its $3.6 million training center expansion. It’s located at
Redev CNY begins construction on St. Matthew’s Condos in East Syracuse
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Redev CNY, a real-estate development firm based in Syracuse, says it’s starting construction on the St. Matthew’s Condos, a project that will bring 21 affordable condominiums to the East Syracuse community. The project is located at the former St. Matthew’s Elementary School at 214 Kinne St. in the village of East
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EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Redev CNY, a real-estate development firm based in Syracuse, says it’s starting construction on the St. Matthew’s Condos, a project that will bring 21 affordable condominiums to the East Syracuse community.
The project is located at the former St. Matthew’s Elementary School at 214 Kinne St. in the village of East Syracuse. It’ll offer a mix of 12 one-bedroom condos, 8 two-bedroom condos, and 1 studio condo.
Construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025, with sales slated to begin shortly thereafter, Redev CNY said.
Units will be available to individuals and families earning between 80 percent and 100 percent of the area median income (AMI) in Onondaga County. For 2024, 80-to-100 percent of AMI for a family of four in Onondaga County ranges from about $70,200 to $87,800. Pricing for the condos will range from $139,200 to $167,889, with an average sale price of $150,185.
“This project is critical to creating homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers and families making between 80-100% of AMI,” Ryan Benz, managing partner of Redev CNY, said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud to be the first affordable condo program across New York to utilize the AHOP program, and we are so thankful for our friends at HCR, HFA, and CPC for their dedication to making this vision a reality.”
The development is the first in New York State to use the Affordable Housing Opportunity Program (AHOP) through the NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), per the Redev CNY announcement.
The project is further supported by National Grid’s Clean Heat Program and Onondaga County’s Housing Initiative Program. Redev CNY says both National Grid and Onondaga County contributed “vital funding to ensure the success” of this community-focused development.
Tompkins Chamber announces annual award winners
ITHACA, N.Y. — The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce has announced this year’s winners of its annual awards, which recognize contributions by businesses, nonprofits, and
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