Craft Cannery has passed its USDA-Organic audit, officially making the Genesee County-based manufacturing plant approved to produce, label, and market its clients’ products as “USDA Organic” for compliant products. The contract manufacturing facility in Bergen specializes in producing pasta sauces, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, oils, marinades, and more on a large scale for local and regional food brands, retailers, and restaurants.

USDA Organic Certification is a regulatory approval issued by a USDA-accredited certifying agent to confirm that a facility operates according to the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) standards. The NOP establishes standards, rules, and regulations for the production, handling, and labeling of organic products.

“With our new organic certification, I confirm each organic ingredient has a full list of ingredients and documentation showing where it is sourced and grown organically,” said Craft Cannery’s Procurement Manager Nick Riggio. “I review data safety sheets, country of origin, regulatory claims, and other important documents in the process. I need to maintain quality on all ingredients, including every single ingredient that enters our doors, and confirm quality and safety on every single product that goes out our doors.” 

USDA Organic Certification confirms that the product is 1) Grown and processed without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, or prohibited substances; 2) Handled in a way that prevents contamination with non-organic products or materials, and 3) Traceable through every stage of production, processing, and packaging.

The audit focused on Craft Cannery’s infrastructure and working processes for organic standards. It also focused on how the manufacturing plant handles, processes, stores, and labels products in accordance with strict organic rules, and how the business consistently follows these rules. 

“All of this mitigates risk for raw materials, ensures quality and assurance, and drives overall cost savings for our clients. This is our process for clients running 10 cases… or 10,000 cases,” added Riggio. 

This certification adds to Craft Cannery’s growing accreditations and certifications. Craft Cannery is also backed by the FDA, USDA, Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Craft Cannery is SQF-certified with the ability to produce certified Kosher.

To maintain organic certification, Craft Cannery will undergo an annual review and inspection. 

For more information on Craft Cannery, please visit www.craftcannery.com.

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This comprehensive course is designed for individuals seeking to become licensed commercial or private pesticide applicators. It covers pesticide laws, safety, mixing, calibration, and application techniques, and acts as a prerequisite for the exam to become a certified applicator in New York State. This 30-hour DEC-approved course is a pathway to taking the certification exam, which will be administered on February 13.

The course is required for lawn and landscape professionals, golf course, ornamental, turf nurseries, cemetery, commercial grounds maintenance, municipal employees, farm-owners, farm managers, and others who plan to commercially or professionally apply or supervise the use of restricted pesticides.

Registration and payment are required before the first day of class. Find more details about the course and register at https://tinyurl.com/swhveu57.

Contact Jarmila Haseler at 585-753-2565 or jh954@cornell.edu with any questions.

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On behalf of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), Assemblyman Steve Hawley recently announced grant awards for the 139th Assembly District. Three organizations, the Genesee Country Village & Museum, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, and the Cobblestone Society & Museum, received a total grant sum of $610,500. This funding will be used to improve operations, enhance administrative support, and update facilities.

“As your assemblyman, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is securing funding that will go toward strengthening local organizations and bettering our community,” said Hawley. “These vital grant awards will not only help boost current conditions and initiatives for these organizations, but they will also set them up for future success with targeted support and improvements. I’m proud to be able to announce this funding for our community, and I will continue to work in Albany to make sure our local institutions have the funding and resources they need to succeed.”

Read the full breakdown of NYSCA’s grant awards for the 139th Assembly District in FY2026 at https://tinyurl.com/ukxznwz.

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The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is calling for the Federal Government to investigate the Truck & Car Set: 2 Vehicles with Trailer toy and test for a national recall. The toy is distributed by Old East Main Co. and was sold at Dollar General stores throughout New York State. Research and testing found the red and gray surface coating of this toy contains inconsistent lead levels – in certain samples up to 11 times the allowable paint and surface coating lead level established by the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The Division is also warning holiday shopping consumers about the health hazards the lead paint found on the Truck and Car Set toy presents to children.

“It is deeply concerning and disappointing to learn that some of the products intended for our children fail to meet the health and safety standards they deserve,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “I urge the Federal Government to take this issue seriously and to investigate and test for recall this truck and car toy set before parents and guardians unknowingly place these gifts under the tree for their child this holiday season.”

At the DCP’s request, Dollar General has removed the toy from its stores in New York pending additional testing. The DCP also contacted the distributor requesting it cease the distribution and sale of the toy in NYS and nationwide.

What To Do If You Own This Toy Set:

If anyone has the Truck & Car Set: 2 Vehicles with Trailer at home, they can dispose of it by simply throwing it in the garbage, or they can choose to set it aside in a safe area and await any future recall instructions, which may or may not include a refund component. Consumers with unopened toys may contact Dollar General and seek a refund or store credit in accordance with store policies.

What is Lead, and Why Is It Harmful?

Lead is a chemical substance often used in production of painted toys, furniture and toy jewelry; cosmetics; food or liquid containers; and plumbing materials. According to the New York State Department of Health, lead is a metal that can harm children when it gets into their bodies. Lead can harm a young child’s growth, behavior, and ability to learn. It can also cause anemia, kidney damage, and hearing loss. More information on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention is available at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/.

Safety Tips When Shopping:

Hazards in children’s products are often latent and unfortunately not known until someone is hurt. Accordingly, the DCP urges consumers to follow simple safety tips when shopping to best ensure the toys purchased are safe for children:

•Always purchase age-appropriate toys.

•Read labels carefully and take note of all warnings.

•Keep toys in good condition and repair or dispose of broken toys.

•Make sure any fabric toys are labeled as flame-resistant or flame-retardant.

•Monitor children’s product recalls at https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls or sign up for email alerts at https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Subscribe to be notified of any recalls right away.

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Space: The New Frontier is now showing at the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium. In the quest to make human spaceflight accessible and affordable for ordinary citizens within a decade, leading innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and daredevils have begun racing towards the unknown. From self-assembling habitats, commercial space stations, and launching rockets without fuel to build the Lunar Gateway to deep space, history is in the making as we speak. 

“You will rarely find yourself so immersed in the human need to explore outer space than in this Giant Screen experience,” shared Jim Bader, Strasenburgh Planetarium Director. Filmed in 8K and shown in full-dome format, accompanied by an award-winning score, there’s nothing like being in the front seat to witness a massive-scale launch of Artemis I.

This film makes science fiction feel like a tangible reality, with a familiar narrator, none other than Chris Pine, Star Trek’s Captain Kirk. “I remember seeing these shows [in] IMAX when I was a kid, so to be a part of it is a real blessing, and I can’t wait to inspire kids,” says Pine.

Also among the film’s stars are real-life astronaut Victor Glover and space architect Ariel Ekblaw. Glover will become the first Black man to fly around the moon, while piloting only the second crewed flight to the Moon since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. MIT alum Ekblaw is co-founder and CEO of Aurelia Institute, a nonprofit space architecture R&D lab, education and outreach center, and policy hub dedicated to building humanity’s future in space.

For show times and tickets, go to https://rmsc.org/events/the-new-frontier/.

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This session will feature nationally recognized researcher and policy leader Dr. Erin P. Fraher, PhD, MPP, and is part of NYSARH’s continuing education and advocacy series. Dr. Fraher will explore emerging trends in workforce development, including training pipelines, recruitment and retention strategies, and policy levers that can help address health professional shortages in rural communities.

The event is open to NYSARH members and the public. Registration is available at https://nysarh.wildapricot.org/event-6339687. 

Dr. Fraher, Director of the Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Deputy Director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most prolific scholars on health workforce dynamics. Her research has informed federal and state policies on workforce planning, education, and rural access to care.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Fraher to this important conversation,” said Alison Coates, President of the NYSARH Board of Directors. “Her depth of knowledge and data-driven insights will help guide our collective efforts to strengthen the rural health workforce and ensure every community has access to skilled, sustainable care. This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing our rural healthcare workforce.”

“Rural health systems depend on thoughtful workforce strategies that anticipate future needs,” said Dr. Fraher. “I look forward to joining NYSARH and its partners to discuss the Comptroller’s report and practical, evidence-based approaches that can help New York’s rural communities thrive.”

Founded in 2001, the New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) works to improve the health and well-being of rural New Yorkers and their communities. As the voice for rural health, NYSARH advocates at all levels on behalf of its members and sponsors conferences, workshops, and programs that advance equity and innovation across the state.

For more information or to register for the webinar, visit www.nysarh.org.

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The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is celebrating 60 years of Community Health Centers (CHCs). In 1989, they were designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). They offer affordable primary healthcare across America. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we honor their extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to becoming the backbone of our nation’s largest primary care network.

Today, FQHCs operate over 16,000 locations nationwide, serving 32.5 million patients. In New York State, health centers serve over 2.4 million patients, including 685,532 children and 283,425 older adults.
Oak Orchard Health (OOH), a Federally Qualified Health Center, was founded in 1973 and has grown into an integrated health system serving 34,000 patients across eleven locations. We understand what makes our communities special. We’re culturally aware and work hard to meet the unique needs of everyone who lives and works in our community, including agricultural workers and individuals from diverse backgrounds, including all races and genders.

The History and Value of Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers (CHCs) originated in the 1960s as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and the civil rights movement, with the goal of providing healthcare to underserved communities. Key milestones include the establishment of the first two centers in 1965, the formalization of the “Federally Qualified Health Center” (FQHC) designation in 1989, and the inclusion of FQHCs in the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Today, FQHCs are a cornerstone of the US healthcare system, providing comprehensive primary and preventative care to millions, regardless of their ability to pay.
FQHCs serve approximately 10% of the U.S. population but account for roughly 1% of total annual healthcare spending in the United States. By keeping people healthy, primary care doesn’t just save lives – it saves money.

The History of Oak Orchard Health
The vision for Oak Orchard Health (OOH) came from Dr. James Perrin, a pediatrician at the University of Rochester. He wanted to create a community-controlled health center that could address all the unmet healthcare needs of the area.
The first Oak Orchard Community Health Center was located at the former McNall Furniture store, 52 North Main Street, in downtown Albion. The name Oak Orchard originated here, as Route 98 passed through Albion, which was part of the old Oak Orchard Trail that ran from Batavia to Point Breeze on the lake.
OOH soon outgrew its first facility, and since there was no large space available to rent in Albion, the Board’s Building committee looked for a site in Brockport. OOH relocated to the Booth Building at 80 West Avenue. The board felt that this location gave OOH a good quality image. Since there was still a demand for quality medical care in Albion, a satellite office remained there. Soon, an office would be built at the Arnold Gregory Hospital, which opened in the spring of 1976. OOH would lease this space until the hospital closed.
Within three years, this group of dedicated community members opened two health centers employing seven full-time doctors and their supporting staff. Its mission was and continues to be to deliver high-quality healthcare at an affordable cost to anyone in the community who needs it.

Funding of Health Centers Today
It is essential to the health of Oak Orchard Health and the nation that federal funding continue for health centers, ensuring people have access to affordable primary care. Today, Federally Qualified Health Centers, like Oak Orchard, serve one in five rural Americans.

La Danse fits the needs of all its students – those who wish to compete and others who wish to do what they love best: dance! Emphasis is placed on developing poise, perception, coordination, and discipline in an enjoyable environment. Classes are offered in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, modern, Irish dance, acrobatics, and musical theater, with programs available for children as young as 18 months to adults.

Ashford Dance Company is an inclusive studio that offers a Dancers With Diverse Abilities program. Diverse abilities can be anything that makes a child unique or makes a typical class a little trickier for them. Specialized staff work with these students in sensory classes accompanied by dance.

Bertino says the end-of-year recital is the studio’s gift to its families. They performed six shows in May, utilizing state-of-the-art technology. The goal is for each family leaving the Fall-to-Spring session to have a lasting impression of a professional, well-put-together show. It’s “what our families deserve,” Bertino said.

The second of the six May recitals coincided with Bertino’s youngest son’s graduation from Nazareth University. While Bertino understandably had to miss that sold-out show, she said, “My village of amazing staff made it all happen. I’m so blessed to have such amazing, talented, hard-working staff!”
For more information, visit http://www.ladanseworkshop.com or http://www.ashforddanceco.com.

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