Ovid votes to establish a local development corporation

The Finger Lakes Times:

The Ovid Town Board unanimously — and enthusiastically — created the Ovid Local Development Corp., with the goal of supporting efforts to rebuild the community’s downtown.

Town Supervisor Joe Borst said the LDC, and the group that has been meeting to create it, are positive signs that “good things are going to come” to Ovid in the future, even if it’s not clear quite yet what that means.

“They just don’t know at this point,” Borst said about the property and business owners who were affected by the Jan. 21 fire that started in an apartment over the Ovid Big M. “I think some of them are still working with their insurance companies. They could decide to rebuild and the (LDC) could help, or they could deed the property and the (LDC) could take over.”

The measure adopted Wednesday establishes a temporary board of directors that includes Ellen Smith, Bruce Murray, and Erik Holmberg. Borst said applications are still being accepted for a full board of directors and asked that anyone interested submit letters of intent.

The letters will be reviewed by two members each from the Ovid village and town boards. Preference will be given to Ovid residents and business owners.

Borst said there have been several meetings since the fire with those interested in helping recovery efforts, but things had gone as far as they could go without an entity like the agency being established. He said he was grateful that a group stepped up to the plate to do it.

Schuyler County officials recognize June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The Schuyler County Legislature, the County Department of Social Services and the Office for the Aging have each announced their support for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, and was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2012.

County officials have noted that elder abuse is a global, social, health and human rights issue that affects millions of older persons around the world and deserves the attention of the international community.

“It is our collective responsibility to provide for safe and secure communities and living environments for our seniors, and to encourage reporting of any suspected abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation to the Schuyler County Adult Protective Services, as well as law enforcement agencies, for investigation, and intervention,” states a resolution of the Schuyler County Legislature.

In order to promote awareness of elder abuse, the Schuyler County Office for the Aging asks all county residents to wear something purple on Sunday, June 15.

Elder abuse is a significant public health problem. Survivors suffer higher levels of psychological distress, are twice as likely to be hospitalized and face greater risk of an early death than other seniors.

A copy of the Schuyler County Legislature’s proclamation, “Declare June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” appears below.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Resolution-Schuyler County, New York by Steven Getman

Second Amendment Legal Update, June 2025

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete copy of this month’s report, click here.