8 DEC 2022 · In August of 2022 the Pact Act was passed. It expands health care benefits for veterans exposed to a variety of toxic substances. Now the Stratton V.A. is conducting outreach to help identify veterans who have may have been exposed, and to inform them about the expanded coverage. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks about the Pact Act with Peter Potter, Public Affairs Director, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, and Emil Baker, who volunteers with many groups and works on multiple initiatives involving veterans. Potter says due to the Pact Act, this will probably be the second largest influx of veterans coming in for VA care since the Vietnam Era because there will be such an increase in eligibility. He also explains what a “presumptive condition” designation means. Baker says many veterans don’t know about what is available to them and he wants to spread the word to help more people acquire essential heath care services. Learn more: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

23 NOV 2022 · Opportunities abound for coders, web designers, and software developers but many people don’t realize they have the aptitude to pursue those kinds of careers. The growing need for training for coders and developers has led to growth for CanCode Communities. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with CanCode founder Annmarie Lanesey about how locally, statewide, and nationally, careers in web and app development are skyrocketing. Lanesey says she has always focused on training non-traditional talent for software careers. Now CanCode is working with local schools, in addition to training adults both young and old, about essential skills for the world of software development. Lanesey also talks about how quickly technology keeps changing and her work with local employers to make sure CanCode graduates will have the up-to-date knowledge they need for successful careers.

28 OCT 2022 · More than two-and-a-half million high school and middle school students are vaping, with many of them attracted to the sweet, fruity flavors that are offered. That’s according to a report from the CDC. A local group is trying to educate parents and community members about the risks of vaping. Tim Murdick, President of the Nopiates Committee says many parents don’t realize how easy it is for kids to buy and hide vaping materials.  In this episode of Upstate Issues with Diane Donato, Murdick talks about ways parents can talk to their kids about the risks and steps they can take to ensure their kids don’t become addicted. For more information: https://www.nopiates.com/

21 OCT 2022 · Helping to keep our roads safe in New York involves the work of over 400 Drug Recognition Experts. In this episode of Upstate Issue, Diane Donato talks with New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Deputy Commissioner Owen McShane about the intensive training that is involved for officers to become Drug Recognition Experts and how they then work with law enforcement throughout the state to help identify drivers who have been operating under the influence. Deputy Commission McShane says they also try to educate the public about driving under the influence and other factors like a lack of sleep that can affect a driver’s abilities.

30 SEP 2022 · Securing childcare is one of the major hurdles for working parents, especially when children are young. Recent changes in eligibility for aid have made many more New York families able to get financial assistance to pay for care for their children but many families remain unaware that they can get help. Many other families don’t know how to go about applying. Schenectady County Cares is a new online portal that helps families get assistance. Paying for help is just part of the hurdle. Finding providers is another challenge. The Schenectady County Cares portal is trying to address the shortage of providers by offering information and assistance to make it easier for people to become certified as childcare providers. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich and Department of Social Services Commissioner Paul Brady about the new initiative and why it is vital for the community at large.

23 SEP 2022 · The City of Troy has been bringing some unique recycling opportunities to its residents, such as the Pumpkin Smash, curbside composting, and string-lights recycling. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with Naomi Pitkin, the Recycling Specialist for the City of Troy about efforts to connect with the community about ways to get involved in recycling efforts.

1 SEP 2022 · Be it a home fire, a hurricane, or other natural disaster, the American Red Cross responds with food, shelter, and other resources necessary to stabilize families and communities. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with American Red Cross Senior Disaster Program Manager Josh Moskowitz about the services the Red Cross provides. Moskowitz has years of experience responding to disasters and says there are specific actions individuals can take to help prepare themselves in advance of disasters. Preparation in advance can make a big difference since you rarely know when a disaster may strike. According to the Red Cross, in 2021 more than 40% of Americans — some 130 million people — were living in a county struck by a climate-related disaster.

5 AUG 2022 · For 25 years, a local group has been supporting area students achieve their dreams of graduating from college. 518 ElevatED, formally known as Capital Region Sponsor-a-Scholar, provides mentorship to students at Albany, Schenectady, and Troy High schools.  The program requires students meet weekly at school and at least once a month with a volunteer mentor. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with Laura Marx President and CEO of 518 ElevatED about their success rate with helping launch high school students into higher education and/or careers. So far, hundreds of students have completed the program and now have college degrees.

29 JUL 2022 · Public libraries have long been community centers providing avenues to a better life through shared learning resources. Now, a number of libraries in our region are finding creative solutions to expand community access to internet services. According to the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, in New York State nearly 27% of households do not subscribe to broadband at home. This is often due to the high cost of service but it is sometimes due to a lack of available providers. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with Erica Freudenberger, Outreach & Marketing Consultant at the Southern Adirondack Library System about innovative ways local libraries are helping to bridge that digital divide to help their community members get access to the internet.

22 JUL 2022 · As attitudes continue to evolve around mental health and dealing with trauma, first responders are being offered several new tools to help them cope with the many demands of their jobs. In this episode of Upstate Issues, Diane Donato talks with Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple about new approaches to help all first responder agencies in New York State recover from the stresses of their jobs. He speaks candidly about how witnessing traumatic situations leaves a mark and he speaks about his desire to do more to help after having known of suicides within the ranks. A joint effort with the New York State Sheriffs’ Association and FirstNet, built with AT&T includes professional employee trainings, Employee Assistance Programs, a Public Service Announcement campaign titled “It’s Ok to not be OK,” and a confidential peer-to-peer hotline available to all Sheriff Office employees statewide. Sheriff Apple points out that the deputies know that they can use the peer-to-peer hotline to connect with officers outside their own department, a distinction that may make them more likely to open up. He also talks about current struggles with recruitment and retainment, issues he hopes will improve with a greater emphasis on wellness.