#CulinaryCourant #NewYorkStatePeachy 800 Pounds of Butter Arrive as Beloved New York State Fair Tradition Takes Shape Construction of the 58th Annual Butter Sculpture at the New York State Fairgrounds is Underway

One of the first signs that The Great New York State Fair is just around the corner has arrived: 800 pounds of butter have been delivered to the Dairy Products Building, where sculptors are transforming it into the 58th Annual American Dairy Association North East Butter Sculpture, sponsored by Wegmans.

Returning for their 24th consecutive butter sculpture, renowned sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton have unpacked their tools, settled into their refrigerated studio and begun carving this year’s secret design. The sculpture will take approximately 11 days onsite to complete and will remain under wraps until its official unveiling, setting the stage for one of The New York State Fair's most anticipated annual attractions.

"The butter sculpture has become one of The New York State Fair's most cherished traditions because it tells the story of our state's dairy farm families in a way that's both creative and memorable," said John Chrisman, CEO of American Dairy Association North East. "While fairgoers come to see an incredible work of art, the butter sculpture is really about the people behind it – our dairy farmers, whose hard work brings wholesome, nutritious dairy foods from their farms to families across New York.”

The butter used for the sculpture comes from O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, N.Y., and is out of specification for retail sale for a variety of reasons, so American Dairy Association North East works with the sculptors to put it to good use by creating a beautiful piece of art.

After delighting fairgoers for 13 days, the butter's story doesn't end.

Once The Fair concludes, the butter returns to Western New York, where Noblehurst Farms in Pavilion recycles it through an anaerobic digester that converts waste into renewable energy. This marks the 11th consecutive year the farm has given the butter a sustainable second life, preventing it from ending up in a landfill. Noblehurst Farms' vast recycling program turns over 500 tons of food waste from supermarkets, universities and schools each month into enough energy to power the farm and over 300 local homes. Specifically, the butter from the Butter Sculpture alone will be able to power one house for three days.

American Dairy Association North East will unveil the 58th Annual Butter Sculpture to members of the media - and live on its Facebook page - on Tuesday, August 25, one day before The Fair officially opens. The sculpture will remain on display in the Dairy Products Building throughout The Fair.

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KBRA Assigns AAA Rating, Stable Outlook to DASNY State Personal Income Tax Revenue Bonds (General Purpose) Series 2026A (Tax-Exempt) and Series 2026B (Federally Taxable)

KBRA assigns a long-term rating of AAA with a Stable Outlook to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) State Personal Income Tax Revenue Bonds (General Purpose) Series 2026A (Tax-Exempt) and Series 2026B (Federally Taxable). Concurrently, KBRA affirms the AAA rating and Stable Outlook on outstanding State Personal Income Tax Bonds (General Purpose) issued by DASNY and by the New York State Thruway Authority.

Key Credit Considerations

The rating actions reflect the following key credit considerations:

Credit PositivesProvisions of the PIT Enabling Act and the importance of residual PIT revenues to fund State operations mitigate the risk of legislative non-appropriation or a failure to pay financing agreement payments when due after amounts have been appropriated and set aside in the RBTF.

RBTF Receipts provide ample historical and projected coverage of maximum annual debt service.

The 2.0x additional bonds test and essentiality of surplus PIT revenues mitigate against overleveraging.

Credit ChallengesPIT receipts, particularly the non-withholding component, are inherently volatile and closely correlated to the income of wealthy residents and financial sector performance. The share of PIT receipts related to net capital gains is significant.

PIT receipts are disproportionately generated by the State’s highest-earning taxpayers. The potential exists for continued outmigration of this component of the PIT revenue base.

Financing agreement payments are subject to annual appropriation and executory only to the extent of amounts available in the RBTF. The potential for a diversion in the flow of RBTF Receipts in the event of a budgetary delay or severe fiscal distress, while not non-existent, is extremely remote, in KBRA’s view.

Rating Sensitivities

For UpgradeN/A

For DowngradeA trend of declining debt service coverage that approaches the 2.0x ABT level.

Failure by the State Legislature to annually appropriate financing agreement payments.

State actions to amend, repeal or alter statutes relating to the Personal Income Tax (Articles 22, 24 and 24-A of the Tax Law), or the State Personal Income Tax Revenue Bond Financing Program that negatively impact revenues available for financing agreement payments.

To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.

MethodologiesPublic Finance: U.S. Special Tax Revenue Bond Rating Methodology

Public Finance: U.S. State Annual Appropriation Obligation Rating Methodology

ESG Global Rating Methodology

Disclosures

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Only those ratings on securities issued by this Issuer that also are denoted on the Security Ratings tab for this Issuer on KBRA.com as “endorsed” by Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited into the European Union and/or by Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited into the UK are covered by the disclosures set forth in this press release and the corresponding Information Disclosure Form. No other ratings on issuances by this Issuer have been endorsed into the European Union or the UK, and the disclosures set forth herein and in the corresponding Information Disclosure Form are inapplicable to those ratings and may not be used for regulatory purposes by European Union or UK investors in these securities.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA), one of the major credit rating agencies (CRA), is a full-service CRA registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In addition, KBRA is designated as a Designated Rating Organization (DRO) by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized as a Qualified Rating Agency by Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission and is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP) in the U.S.

Doc ID: 1013852

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#PatrioticPeachy #NewYorkStatePeachy Breaking News: Critical speech from New York ratification convention discovered in Albany America 250 celebrations on April 18, 2026 in Philadelphia will commemorate Federalists, Antifederalists, and Miss Dalley’s boarding house where members of the founding generation boarded during the Constitutional Convention

The Center for the Study of the American Constitution announces the discovery of a historic speech which shines new light on the ratification of the Constitution by New York. The speech by Melancton Smith was delivered at the New York State ratification convention in Poughkeepsie on 23 July 1788. The critical manuscript was discovered by historian John P. Kaminski, PhD, and Adam P. Levinson, Esq., working with a team of archivists and librarians at the New York State Library.

In the newly uncovered speech, Smith, the Antifederalist floor leader in the New York convention, explained his fateful decision to support ratification. After five weeks of debate, Smith pivoted to join forces with Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists. In so doing, Smith provides an example of a profile in courage, acting in the national interest, at great personal cost.

A transcript of the speech has been published in The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution and can be found here: https://csac.history.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/281/2025/11/Melancton-Smith-Speech-23-July-1788.pdf

New scholarship about this discovery can be found on the website StatutesandStories.com:

https://www.statutesandstories.com/blog_html/breaking-news-melancton-smiths-speech-discovered-in-albany/

For the past 237 years, historians have debated which were the most important events during the campaign to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Among the most consequential speeches from 1787 to 1788 were James Wilson’s address at the Pennsylvania State House Yard, John Hancock’s speech proposing recommendatory amendments at the Massachusetts ratification convention, and Edmund Randolph’s speech at the Virginia ratification convention announcing his reasons for supporting ratification even though he had refused to sign the Constitution in Philadelphia. Smith’s speech is comparable to these critical moments, if not more historic.

While speeches during the first two weeks of the New York ratification convention were actively reported by the press, by mid-July detailed records become more sparse. Thankfully this discovery allows readers to better understand Smith’s thinking as he attempted to convince enough of his Antifederalist fellow delegates to join him in gaining a slim majority in ratifying the Constitution by a vote of 30 – 27.

Melancton Smith's July 23 speech was summarized in the New York Journal, but until now a copy of the speech was unavailable

The convention's journal merely records motions and votes not speeches

In beautifully written prose, Smith asked whether New York will join “the great American family” or “shall we withdraw ourselves from it and seek our fortunes separately.” Smith argued that New York should take its place in the “family mansion” “with brotherly kindness and confidence,” relying on “common interests and common prudence” to obtain an improved Constitution. Smith explained that he “did not approve the building as it stands,” but admitted that the “whole is made of good materials.”

While he was a dedicated Antifederalist, Smith recognized that “[i]n the short period of nine months” the Constitution had been adopted by ten of the thirteen states. Smith was concerned by the danger that New York City and the southern counties might secede from New York if the state convention rejected ratification. Smith took solace in the fact that the union was supported by “many wise good men, men who have given the fullest evidence of their love of their country.” For Smith, the goal of amending the Constitution could best be obtained if New York aligned with other states who were also recommending amendments. The speech concludes with the observation that America was witnessing “one of the most astonishing events in the history of human affairs.”

Earlier this year, fourteen pages of Melancton Smith’s personal notes of the debates in Poughkeepsie were transcribed and published for the first time. Smith’s convention notes had been held in private hands after being sold at auction at Sotheby’s in 2017. Historians are invited to dive into these previously unknown primary sources evidencing a seminal moment in American history. In the weeks to follow, we look forward to releasing additional scholarship on this and related topics, including the authorship of the essays of the Antifederalist Federal Farmer and Brutus.

In April of next year educational programming will be held in Philadelphia celebrating “America 250,” the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At the center of the celebrations in Philadelphia on April 18, 2026 will be the unveiling of a historic marker commemorating Miss Dalley’s boarding house on Market Street, the location where Samuel Adams, Gouverneur Morris, Alexander Hamilton and other members of the founding generation boarded during seminal moments in early American history. For example, while he is not a household name, Gouverneur Morris, the “penman of the Constitution,” boarded at Miss Dalley’s boarding house during the Constitutional Convention with Alexander Hamilton and Elbridge Gerry.

A round table discussion will be held at Philadelphia’s historic Congress Hall at 4:30 on April 18. While the event is open to the public, space is limited. Tickets are available upon request.

Here are additional links which provide a preview of the scholarship involving the authorship of the pseudonymous Antifederalist essays by Brutus and Federal Farmer. Newly compiled evidence demonstrates that the sixteen Brutus essays were written by Melancton Smith before he switched sides to support ratification “in full confidence” that recommended amendments would soon be considered in a second constitutional convention.

https://csac.history.wisc.edu/2025/04/01/identifying-the-federal-farmer-unravelling-the-mystery-of-an-antifederalist-treasure/

https://www.statutesandstories.com/blog_html/mystery-solved-antifederalist-elbridge-gerry-was-the-federal-farmer/

https://www.statutesandstories.com/blog_html/confirmed-antifederalist-melancton-smith-was-brutus/

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#NHLPeachy @NHL #NewYorkStatePeachy New York Islanders to Host 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena Our Coverage Sponsored by Cosmopolitan Dental, Official Dentist of Whom You Know @GaroNazarianDDS #cosmopolitandental #loveyoursmile

 The Best Dentist in Manhattan & Official Dentist of Whom You Know:

http://cosmopolitandental.com/

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Dr. Garo Nazarian is a Mover and Shaker, and was the first featured: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/01/movers-and-shakers-dr-garo-nazarian-of.html

Dr. Nazarian, a graduate of Boston College and Columbia Dental School, opened Cosmopolitan Dental in 2006 and has grown in practice into one of the top cosmetic and dental implant practices in New York City. Cosmopolitan Dental strives to surpass all patients' expectations by catering to your dental needs while providing the utmost professional results. Cosmopolitan Dental has been recognized by America's Top Dentists and has earned both the Patients' choice award and the Doctors' choice award. Dr. Garo Nazarian is a proud member of the New York State Dental Association, New York County Dental Society and the American Dental Association. Cosmopolitan Dental loves to make you smile!

The National Hockey League® announced today that the New York Islanders will host the 2027 Honda NHL® All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena, on Long Island, N.Y. The event is scheduled for Feb. 5, 6 and 7, and the weekend’s festivities will be broadcast by ESPN and ABC. Additional information on the League’s midseason showcase, including ticketing and broadcast information, will be announced when available.

In addition, the League announced today that due to NHL players being focused on travel and preparation for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, there will be no event at UBS Arena in February of 2026 to formally recognize the participating athletes. It is expected that each NHL Club will organize an Olympic Winter Games send-off for its respective players traveling to Italy, with more details to be announced when available.

Fans can sign up to receive news and updates on the 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend here. The 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend will mark the second time the Islanders will host NHL All-Star activities, with the first being the 1983 edition, featuring the Campbell Conference All-Stars defeating the Wales Conference All-Stars 9-3, and Wayne Gretzky claiming NHL All-Star MVP honors at Nassau Coliseum.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © 2025 NHL. All Rights Reserved.

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#NHLPeachy #NewYorkStatePeachy Buffalo Sabres Deploy Evolv Express® as Part of 2025 Arena Upgrade Initiative

KeyBank Center becomes Evolv’s thirteenth professional hockey customer; company designated as teams “Official Fan Screening Partner”

Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVLV), a leading security technology company pioneering AI-based solutions designed to create safer experiences, today announced that the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres have entered a multi-year subscription agreement to bring Evolv Express® to KeyBank Center. The downtown multi-purpose arena, which has been the team’s home since 1996, recently completed a series of infrastructure upgrades in advance of the 2025/2026 hockey season.

In total, nine Evolv Express Gen2 systems have been deployed, providing advanced entry screening at all fan entrances to the venue. Evolv Express uses advanced sensor technology and AI to detect concealed threats and identify the person and location of the potential threat — while allowing people to move through checkpoints at their natural walking pace. The system is designed to screen visitors effectively while helping minimize congestion and disruptions to traffic flow at entry points.

Evolv and the Sabres have also entered a joint marketing agreement, under which Evolv has been designated as the team’s “Official Fan Screening Partner.” The parties will collaborate on annual promotional content, fan awareness initiatives, and other activities.

“Organizationally, we remain committed to enhancing every aspect of the game-day experience for Sabres fans,” said Pete Guelli, chief operating officer of the Sabres. “The improvements we made to KeyBank Center this offseason are designed to create more efficient ingress and egress, ensuring that fans can spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the game. Our partnership with Evolv has been instrumental in making these upgrades possible and we are thankful for their role in helping us deliver a smoother, faster and more enjoyable experience overall.”

“We’re very pleased to welcome the Sabres and KeyBank Center to our ever-growing roster of major arena customers in North America,” noted John Baier, Evolv’s Vice President of Sports & Entertainment. “It’s gratifying to be a key part of the team’s wide-reaching fan experience upgrades.”

The Sabres/KeyBank Center become Evolv’s thirteenth professional hockey customer. In total, the company counts almost one hundred major teams and sports venues worldwide on its customer roster. The downtown Buffalo deployment also joins several schools, healthcare facilities, and other venues throughout New York as Evolv customers.

About Evolv Technology

Evolv (NASDAQ: EVLV) is designed to transform human security by helping organizations detect potential threats, mitigate risk, and enhance safety using AI-powered security solutions with robust insights. Our technology has helped to create efficient and positive security screening experiences for the world’s most iconic venues and companies as well as schools, hospitals, and public spaces. Evolv’s mission is to create a safer world to live, work, learn, and play. Evolv’s advanced systems have scanned more than 3 billion people since 2019. Evolv Express® has been awarded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Designation as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT) and Evolv eXpedite™ has been awarded the Safety Act Developmental Testing and Evaluation Designation. Evolv and its products have been awarded numerous awards, including the 2024 Security Industry Association (SIA) New Products and Solutions (NPS) Award in the Law Enforcement/Public Safety/Guarding Systems category, as well as the 2024 Sport Business Journal’s (SBJ) awards for “Best In Fan Experience Technology” and “Best In Sports Technology”. Evolv®, Evolv Express®, Evolv Insights®, Evolv Visual Gun Detection™, Evolv eXpedite™, and Evolv Eva™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. For more information, visit evolv.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Evolv Technology intends for such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements in this press release, other than that are historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements made by the President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as statements regarding the Company’s strategy, financial and operational performance and growth, and efforts to create value for stakeholders. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results and actions to be materially different from any future results or actions expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on April 28, 2025, as well as any such factors that may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, it may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.

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#BigAppleBusiness #NewYorkStatePeachy EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES 2025 FINALISTS FOR $3 MILLION GLOBAL GROW-NY BUSINESS COMPETITION

20 Food and Agriculture Startups from Around the World will Compete to Win a Combined Total of $3 Million in Prize money at Annual Summit on Nov. 12 and 13

The Grow-NY Competition is funded through Upstate Revitalization Initiatives - Finger Lakes Forward, CNY Rising, and Southern Tier Soaring - Regional Comprehensive Strategies to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development (ESD) and Cornell University's Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) today announced the 20 finalist startups selected to compete in the seventh round of Grow-NY, the world-renowned food and agriculture business competition that awards $3 million in prize money annually. The Grow-NY competition, funded through New York State's Upstate Revitalization Initiatives — Finger Lakes Forward, CNY Rising, and Southern Tier Soaring — and Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), was created to catalyze economic growth in Upstate New York. Finalist startups are required to commit to growing jobs, partnerships or operations in this 22-county region.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, said, "Each year, the Grow-NY food and agriculture competition attracts top-quality startups and talent from around the world to Upstate New York. Through continued support from New York State, these Grow-NY innovators will create jobs and generate new investments that will drive economic growth in Central New York, the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier for years to come."

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "Grow-NY is integral to growing and enhancing New York's agricultural economy, highlighting the diversity of our industry by featuring emerging businesses focused on critical areas, from high-tech solutions on the farm to food safety. I congratulate the finalists selected today and look forward to the next steps of the competition."

The competition continues to attract strong global interest. This year, 270 startups from 41 countries submitted applications. The U.S. was well represented with entries from 31 states, including 53 from New York State. Notably, 46% of applicants include a female founder, and 74% include a founder from a culturally diverse background, underscoring Grow-NY's commitment to inclusive innovation.

A panel of 40 expert judges, with backgrounds in agribusiness, economic development, equitable access to capital, food systems, and entrepreneurship, selected the finalists who now move forward to the next phase: a 10-week business development accelerator.

The selected finalists, include:Brekland, Brooklyn, NY: Brekland is building a novel, biodegradable foam coating that brings new, in-field functionality to crop frost protection products.

DeepAgro, Rosario, Argentina: DeepAgro develops artificial intelligence solutions for selective agrochemical spraying, sowing, and monitoring and diagnostics.

Ergo Bioscience, Sunchales, Argentina: Ergo pioneers plant cell culturing via a proprietary platform combining AI, genetic engineering, and automation to create plant-based proteins.

Finger Foods Farm, Bloomfield, NY: Finger Foods Farm produces a line of vertically-integrated, health-forward frozen soups, made with local ingredients, processed at regional businesses, and branded to celebrate New York's bounty.

Frost Methane, Juneau, AK: Frost Methane partners with livestock farmers to neutralize methane from manure ponds, earning carbon credit revenue and preventing water ingress.

Full of Beans Kitchen, New York, NY: Full of Beans is building a vertically integrated fava bean platform, starting with regenerative New York-grown crops and ending with high-protein, ready-to-eat foods.

Knead Technologies, Calgary, AB, Canada: Knead's software platform leverages technology to streamline food rescue operations, enabling businesses to redirect surplus food to those in need while quantifying environmental impacts.

Living Ink Technologies, Berthoud, CO: Living Ink repurposes renewable biomass waste, like algae, into sustainable black printing inks and pigments.

Medium Well Technological Solutions, Ramat Yishai, Israel: Medium Well Technological Solutions' BioResin and BioBags are made from biodegradable materials, offering scalable and sustainable solutions for food and pharma.

Mothership Materials, New York, NY: Mothership Materials transforms agricultural waste into carbon-negative feedstocks — such as glucose and cellulose — that power the foods, fuels and fabrics of the future.

Picketa Systems, Fredericton, NB, Canada: Picketa Systems offers real-time plant analysis for precision nutrient management.

PollenSmartHiveLtd, Nairobi, Kenya: Pollen Patrollers empowers small-scale farmers and beekeepers through AI-powered smart hive technology and precision pollination services.

Renewal Mill, Canandaigua, NY: Renewal Mill creates premium, gluten-free, vegan, and upcycled baking ingredients and snacks by transforming nutritious byproducts from food manufacturing into delicious, sustainable products.

Roca, Alameda, CA: Roca has developed an electrochemical system that removes ammonium from wastewater and recovers it as nitrogen fertilizer, helping farms and food processors reduce pollution and lower fertilizer costs.

Seen Nutrition, Ithaca, NY: Seen Nutrition is a food tech startup in the menopause market, initially focused on bone health, with a patented dietary calcium chew made with dairy produced in Central New York.

Shire's Naturals, Peterborough, NH: Shire's Naturals offers clean-label, dairy-free foods made entirely from whole-food, plant-based ingredients.

ThermoShade, Los Angeles, CA: ThermoShade's shade panels absorb radiated body heat, making outdoor spaces feel up to 20°F cooler than under standard awnings.

Trebe Biotech, Pergamino, Argentina: Trebe Biotech uses insect larvae to produce faster, more scalable, and cost-efficient bioproducts for animal health, such as recombinant proteins and vaccines.

Whipnotic, New York, NY: With a patented nozzle technology, Whipnotic creates whipped creams infused with all-natural fruit juices and flavor essences.

ZILA BioWorks, Renton, WA: ZILA converts vegetable oils into high performance, low carbon, recyclable bio-epoxy resins for use in industrial composites, coatings, and adhesives.

Over the course of the accelerator, finalists will receive tailored mentorship from industry experts with regional insight, business development support to refine go-to-market strategies and regional plans, connections to local partners, economic development agencies, and investors, site visits to potential business locations and regional assets, and pitch coaching to prepare for their live competition at the Summit.

"The Grow-NY competition operates at the intersection of innovation, agriculture, and economic development. Our team spends months searching for novel food and ag startups making valuable changes to our food systems that could thrive and create opportunity in Upstate NY. We're excited to facilitate their deep connections in the region over the next couple of months and look forward to sharing their pitches with the public in November," said Jenn Smith, Program Director, Grow-NY.

This year's Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit will take place November 12–13 in Canandaigua, New York, bringing together global innovators, investors, farmers, entrepreneurs and researchers in the heart of the Finger Lakes to spotlight the future of food and agriculture.

The Summit will feature:20 live finalist pitches with incisive questions from a panel of judges recognized nationally for their thought leadership;

A food and agriculture symposium addressing provocative questions about our region's constraints and opportunities;

Opportunities to connect with startups, investors, farmers, taste makers, and service providers working to strengthen Upstate NY's leadership in cutting edge food and ag tech innovation;

Thematic networking roundtables hosted by leaders in the region's dynamic ecosystem, addressing topics new and existing food and ag businesses need to know about scaling their businesses;

Daily Farm Credit East "Ask an Expert" luncheons featuring accessible experts offering insight and predictions on a variety of topics impacting businesses producing or using food and ag tech;

A student startup competition

Grow-NY will award a total of $3 million in prize money to seven winners. This includes a $1 million top prize, two $500,000 awards, and four $250,000 prizes. Winners will be announced live during the Summit's closing ceremony.

Registration is now open for in-person and virtual attendance at the Grow-NY Summit: https://cvent.me/E10znv

For updates on the finalists, mentors, and Summit programming, visit grow-ny.com

To learn more about Cornell's Center for Regional Economic Advancement, visit: crea.cornell.edu

Accelerating Economic Development in the Finger Lakes

Today's announcement complements "Finger Lakes Forward," the region's comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture‎ and food production, and advanced manufacturing. More information is available here.

Accelerating Economic Development in Central NY

Today's announcement complements "CNY Rising" the region's comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on capitalizing on global market opportunities, strengthening entrepreneurship and creating an inclusive economy. More information is available here.

Accelerating Economic Development in the Southern Tier

Today's announcement complements "Southern Tier Soaring," the region's comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving next-generation innovation. More information is available here.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

SOURCE Grow-NY

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#PatrioticPeachy #NewYorkStatePeachy #CassieDonegan New York's Cassie Donegan Wins Miss America 2026!!! Congratulations Cassie!

Cassie Donegan, Miss New York, crowned Miss America 2026.

Cassie Donegan, Miss New York, has been crowned Miss America 2026 after two inspiring nights of preliminary competition featuring 52 delegates representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Cassie becomes the 98th woman to hold the iconic Miss America title in the brand's 104-year history, and the 8th Miss New York to earn the crown.

Cassie has earned more than $70,000 in scholarships through the Miss America program, funding her undergraduate education and supporting her pursuit of a master's degree.

Raised in a non-traditional household, Cassie found refuge in the arts—a space where she felt safe, seen, and empowered. That connection now drives her Community Service Initiative, "Promoting Arts Education in Our School Systems." For nearly two decades, she has championed every child's right to creative expression, directing and designing youth theatre curricula, curating a K-12 S.T.E.A.M. masterclass, and founding three scholarship funds to bridge accessibility gaps in arts education.

Beyond her advocacy, Cassie serves as Chief Operations Officer of Southern Sitter LLC, a women-led childcare company she helped expand into a multi-faceted, multi-state business. Under her leadership, the company has created flexible career opportunities and financial stability for hundreds of women—empowering them to balance their work, families, and passions.

Cassie is also a proud member of Actor's Equity Association, having built a professional performance career on stages across the nation, sharing the spotlight with some of the industry's most celebrated talents.

"Miss America has always been a powerful springboard for ambitious women to turn their dreams into reality," Cassie shared. "I am honored to represent an organization that provides scholarships, resources, and a platform for women to lead—and I'm deeply grateful for the chance to bring that mission to life."

The final night of competition, hosted by Nikki Novak and Billy Gilman, featured a celebrity judging panel including Mayan Lopez, Frederick Anderson, Frank Kelleher, Jen Hale, and Tawny Godin Welch. The event took place at the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida.

Each year, the Miss America Opportunity awards over $5 million in tuition scholarships and provides an additional $35 million in-kind scholarships through its national, state, and local programs.

Cassie earned the crown after advancing through multiple rounds of competition and placing in the Top 5 finalists alongside Sadie Schiermeyer (1st Runner-Up, TX), Paris Richardson (2nd Runner-Up, FL), Audrey Kittila (3rd Runner-Up, GA), and Emma Terry (4th Runner-Up, AL). Semi-finalists included Kennedy Holland (AR), Zoe Scheiderich (TN), Maria Derisavi (MD), Anna Leah Jolly (MS), Ariana Rodriguez (KY), and Nitsaniyah Fitch (IL).

As Miss America, Cassie will serve as the official national brand ambassador for the Miss America Opportunity, traveling worldwide to champion arts education, promote scholarship and service, and empower individuals of all ages to embrace their creativity and achieve their full potential.

About Miss America

Miss America is the nation's leading empowerment and service platform for young women, supporting their personal and professional growth while inspiring them to serve as positive role models in their communities. Since 1921, Miss America has been dedicated to its mission of "Empowering Women to Lead," engaging thousands of young women nationwide, ages 14-28, as local and state brand ambassadors committed to community service. Through the Miss America's Scholarship Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), the program awards the largest amount of scholarships to women in America.

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#CulturedPeachy #NewYorkStatePeachy #PeachyinSpace George Eastman Museum presents “Focus, Click, Totality!” to celebrate 2024 total solar eclipse

The George Eastman Museum will be open on Monday, April 8 in celebration of the 2024 total solar eclipse. Titled “Focus, Click, Totality!”, this special event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will showcase the historic gardens and grounds as a viewing area for this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view a display of pinhole cameras from the museum’s extensive collection and a selection of eclipse-related works in the Collection Gallery. Visitors of all ages can walk into a camera with a mobile camera obscura on the grounds, and make their own pinhole projector, as well as cyanotypes and phenakistoscopes in the museum’s Discovery Room. Musician Maggie Paxson, who delighted patrons with a sing-along event last fall, will perform moon-themed songs on the East Lawn prior to the eclipse, and the museum’s resident organist Joe Blackburn will perform space-themed music on George Eastman’s original Aeolian pipe organ.

Visitors can track the progress of the eclipse through a live NASA feed prior to joining others in the museum’s Library Garden and East Lawn, two picture-perfect locations to view the solar eclipse in its totality phase at 3:20 p.m. for an impressive three minutes and thirty-eight seconds. At 4 p.m., the Dryden Theatre will screen the 1986 classic Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring Nimoy and William Shattner.

The George Eastman Museum will also be open during regular hours the weekend prior to the total solar eclipse, with celestial and technology displays in the Collections Gallery and activities in the Discovery Room. On Saturday, April 6, there will be a 7:30 p.m. screening of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1949), where an eclipse features prominently in the film. Visit www.eastman.org/dryden-theatre for more information.

Admission to Focus, Click, Totality! is $35 for adults, $20 for youth 5-18, and free for children four and under. Admission includes admission to the museum, access to the viewing area in the garden, eclipse glasses, and the film screening. Admission does not include parking or the workshop. Side street parking is extremely limited with an array of eclipse activities also planned at the Rochester Museum and Science Center and the Memorial Art Gallery. A limited number of parking spaces are available at the museum for those who purchase a $100 parking pass (not including admission). Park at GEM and explore all of the other festivities within walk distance.

In addition, The George Eastman Museum is partnering with First Student to provide free shuttle busses to allow visitors to shuttle around Rochester. The bus will travel in a continuous loop between the South Avenue and East End garages, the Eastman Museum, The Strong Museum, the Memorial Art Gallery, and the Rochester Museum & Science Center April 6-8, with service extended to the Rochester Public Market on Monday, April 8. For more information and to register for Focus, Click, Totality!, visit www.eastman.org/eclipse.

About the George Eastman Museum

Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the largest film archives in the United States, located on the historic Rochester estate of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography. Its holdings comprise more than 400,000 photographs, 41,000 motion picture films, the world’s preeminent collection of photographic and cinematographic technology, one of the leading libraries of books related to photography and cinema, and extensive holdings of documents and other objects related to George Eastman. As a research and teaching institution, the Eastman Museum has an active publishing program and its L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation’s graduate program (a collaboration with the University of Rochester) makes critical contributions to film preservation. For more information, visit eastman.org and follow the George Eastman Museum account on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

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Reader's Digest Names Nicest Places in America for 2023

NFL Player Damar Hamlin pens heartfelt letter to winning city Buffalo, NY in RD's latest issue highlighting stories of humanity and kindness

Reader's Digest is pleased to announce the winner of the 2023 Nicest Places in America, a national crowd-sourced effort to uncover places where stories of kindness, respect and community shine bright. "Places" range from towns, neighborhoods, businesses, and more. This year, Buffalo, New York received the top honor.

Reader's Digest editors read thousands of stories about a kinder America than you see on the evening news — from every corner of the country they learned about places full of generosity and love. One of this year's standout stories comes from barbershop owner Craig Elston, who offered his business as a safe haven to the community during the blizzard of 2022, the largest since 1977. Elston opened the doors of his barbershop C & C Cutz, providing shelter and support to dozens of Buffalo residents over the course of five days.

Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin penned a heartwarming letter to the people of Buffalo for the resilience that inspired him following his cardiac arrest during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year. "Over the last few years, this city has seen so many hard times and so much pain," said Hamlin. "A shooting that horrified the world, taking lives and stealing dreams. An unimaginable blizzard that brought so much fear. A tragic fire that took young lives. Loss after loss, the challenges seemed to just keep coming. The people of Buffalo have experienced the kind of pain that could have broken them. But it hasn't. Today, when I'm at home in Buffalo, I meet people full of hope and determination. I see a Buffalo that has chosen to come together rather than fall apart. I see why Buffalo is known as the City of Good Neighbors."

Nicest Places in America is an annual initiative for Reader's Digest and this is its 7th year. Last year the title went to Coulterville, California, where neighbors stepped up to help one another during a devastating wildfire.

"Nicest Places has long been a celebration of seeking out the good. Sometimes, that means finding those who are shining a light during their darkest hour like the people in Buffalo after facing such tragedy," said Jason Buhrmester, Chief Content Officer at Reader's Digest. "We believe that in sharing stories of kindness you can encourage more of it and we are honored to celebrate Buffalo this year and look forward to continuing to seek out the good."

Each year Reader's Digest gets help from a selected panel of judges to choose the stories to be crowned "Nicest Places." This year's panel of judges includes:Mitch Albom – Philanthropist and author of "Tuesdays With Morrie"

Mónica Guzmán – Senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels and author of "I Never Thought of It That Way"

Bonnie Kintzer – Chief Executive Officer, Trusted Media Brands

Jim Rhodes – Nominator of Coulterville, California, 2022's Nicest Place in America

Denine Torr – Dollar General's Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy

Finalist cities for Nicest Places included Providence, R.I.; Red Lodge, Mont.; Greenville, S.C.; and Colchester, Vt. You can read their stories here.

About Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest, a TMB brand, simplifies and enriches consumers' lives by discovering and expertly selecting the most interesting ideas, stories, experiences and products in health, home, family, food, finance and humor. Reader's Digest is available online at RD.com; in print; via digital download on iPad, mobile apps and tablets; and can be accessed via its social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

About TMB

TMB (Trusted Media Brands) is the community-driven entertainment company engaging more than 250 million consumers worldwide across streaming TV, social media, web and print. Our portfolio of brands including FailArmy, Family Handyman, People Are Awesome, Reader's Digest, Taste of Home, The Healthy, and The Pet Collective, is powered by content that's inspired and created by our fans. Together our community sparks curiosity, fuels laughter, and inspires people to live big, full, fantastic lives. Learn more about our brands, our data-driven marketing solutions, our award-winning licensing services, and much more at www.tmbi.com.

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Michael Kracker Resoundingly Elected as Chairman of the Erie County Republican Committee

On Saturday, the Erie County Republican Committee resoundingly elected Michael Kracker as the next Chairman in the first contested convention in 30 years (since 1992).

“I am honored to have the support of the men and women of the Erie County Republican Committee. I know the immense responsibility of this roll, and I am eager to get to work electing Republicans to all levels of government - starting this year as we take the fight to Kathy Hochul electing Lee Zeldin as the next Governor of New York right here from her home county. People are fired up, and together we will energize the grassroots of this Party and bring back common sense.”

Michael Kracker has spent his career in service to the Republican Party. As the former Executive Director of the Erie County GOP and a Senior Congressional aide, Michael has served in Republican leadership positions at the local state, and federal level. Currently, Michael serves as Senior Advisor to Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, and oversees the Senate GOP’s statewide political operation. Michael lives in Kenmore where he cheers on the Buffalo Bills with his wife Erin.

Chairman Karl Simmeth did not run for re-election, and was met with a standing ovation for his 3 years of service at the helm of the organization. He held the organization together through several tumultuous years including the change of two major congressional races and the pandemic shutdown. In 2021 he ushered in a red wave that swept from Grand Island to Sardinia and elected Republicans in deep Blue-Democrat territory.

Michael Kracker added, “Karl Simmeth was the steady hand at the wheel that our Party needed in these difficult times and he leaves big shoes to fill. He is well respected and I know I and the rest of the organization wish him and his wife Kathy all the best in a well-deserved retirement."

+ Chairman Michael Kracker

+ First Vice Chair Robin Sion - Concord

+ Second Vice Chair John Schmidt - Buffalo

+ Secretary Patricia Stephens - West Seneca

+ Assistant Secretary Henry Heppner - Orchard Park

+ Treasurer Dan O’Connell - Hamburg

+ Assistant Treasurer Kim Bowers - Orchard Park

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