Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  kicked off the 172nd Great New York State Fair in Syracuse Wednesday. At the ribbon cutting, the Governor announced a new promotion to further drive attendance at the Fair - anyone with a valid Amtrak ticket dated between August 21 and September 2 will receive a free admission to the Fair by presenting the ticket or receipt at any Fair box office. The Governor and cabinet officials took the train from Albany to the Fair's special train stop to highlight the ease and environmentally-friendly way of attending the Fair by train. Amtrak operates regular eastbound and westbound trains that use the special stop at the Fair. Schedules can be found here. The Governor also announced three new projects aimed at continuing the forward momentum of the revitalization of the Fairgrounds including: GreenFair, an aggressive project to make the State Fair energy self-sufficient; a new, larger Gate 10 to be completed in time for next year's Fair; and the start of Phase 2 of the State Fair access improvement project to make the Fair more accessible for vehicles and pedestrians.     
 
"This is a new and different fair than ever before which is why we are seeing record attendance and it's the third most attended fair in the United States," Cuomo said. "Even if you've been to the fair in the past, this is a different experience after the investments we have made and it is a great economic generator for the entire region. It's also a fair we can be proud of - a phenomenal demonstration of who we are and what we have to offer."
 

The Tompkins County Health Department urged residents Monday to avoid the risk of rabies and rabies treatment by capturing and submitting for laboratory testing any bat found in their home that may have come in contact with humans or pets. August is the time when juvenile bats begin to leave the nest and become independent, often losing their way to or from the nest when hunting for food. Attics and crawl spaces heat up in the summer months and bats seek cooler locations on the lower floors of the home. This results in more accidental contacts than at other times of the year.

There has been one confirmed rabid bat in Tompkins County in 2019. Rabies is largely transmitted through bites from rabid animals. Bats present an additional concern, because in certain situations a bite may not be readily apparent. This includes bats that are found in a room with a sleeping person or bats that are found in the presence of an unattended child or a person with a sensory impairment, or if the bat comes in contact with bare skin. Bats that have contact with pets that are lapsed or unvaccinated against rabies also present a concern.

The 3,218 first-year students arriving on campus Aug. 23-24 bring a diversity of experiences, backgrounds and accomplishments to Cornell.

The Class of 2023 includes researchers and entrepreneurs, athletes and musicians, app creators and dairy princesses, dancers and FFA leaders. They hail from every state but Montana, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. New international students represent 39 countries, based on citizenship.

The Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management (TCRMM) announced Tuesday that a new Food Scraps Recycling Drop Spot will open this September in partnership with the Town of Groton.

The drop spot, staffed by an attendant, will operate every Saturday from 9 to 11am at the Town Clerk's Office at 101 Conger Boulevard beginning September 7th. The program accepts all food scraps -- including meat, bones, and dairy products -- as well as food-soiled paper towels and napkins. Coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags are also accepted.