Op Eds

Driving Books Home, Oswego's Bookmobile, thanks seven local businesses that recently donated funds to support its literacy program. Oswego Bookmobile recently received the following donations: Pathfinder Bank and Oswego County Federal Credit Union donated $1000 each. C’s Farm Market donated $500, as did Scriba Electric and Warner Physical Therapy. Donating $100 each are Riverview Wellness Inc. and Amdursky, Pelkey, Fennell, and Wallen.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is pleased to once again sponsor the Assembly Summer Reading Challenge.

Driving Books Home, Oswego's Bookmobile, thanks Master Pryor’s Taekwondo, Universal Metalworks, and Gear Rippers RC for their efforts in support of Oswego Bookmobile, making possible this year's summer program of giving free books and healthy snacks to children in Oswego City School District neighborhoods.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) today reminded children who are participating in this year’s Assembly Summer Reading Challenge to send in their completed challenge forms.

The Oswego Bookmobile recently donated 4 stuffed reindeer and an accompanying book on how Santa’s reindeer got their name to each of the five elementary buildings in the Oswego City School District for their Holiday Giving Program.

The Oswego Bookmobile recently completed its Seventh successful season!

The Oswego City-County Youth Bureau, in collaboration with the Oswego Kiwanis Club, will be hosting a kid's paint and pizza night. The event will be March 9th, 6:30pm, at Lombardo’s Bridie Manor's banquet room. This is open to the first 35 kids to register. Ages for the event are 3-12.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,ref-Pulaski) today invited children to participate in this year’s Assembly Summer Reading Challenge.

Pre-hospital care provided by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is a crucial piece of the health-care system. EMTs perform vital care before a patient arrives at an Emergency Room.

Oswego County Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Renee Fox said EMTs and paramedics “provide life-saving measures including CPR, bleeding control, or assisting with medicine administration such as epinephrine for a severe allergic reaction.”

“Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are critical to the emergency health care system,” Fox said. “EMTs are in demand. There’s a nationwide shortage of EMTs, so fire companies and ambulance agencies are looking for additional EMS personnel, both paid and volunteer.”

To help fill the need for more EMTs, the Oswego County Emergency Management Office/Emergency Medical Services will offer an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) Original/Refresher course beginning Oct. 4 at the Exelon Joint Information Center, 10 Airport Drive, Volney. The course will conclude on March 28, 2019 with the New York State Department of Health written certification exam.

The tuition fee for students not affiliated with an EMS or fire agency is $775 for the Basic EMT-Original and $425 for the Basic EMT-Refresher. The tuition fee may be covered for members of an EMS agency or fire department that have a New York State Department of Health agency code number.

“Successful completion of the New York State EMT certification exam is required for the tuition to be covered,” Fox noted. The NYS Department of Health EMT certification is valid for three years. The Basic EMT Refresher course is for those needing to recertify.

“Being an emergency medical technician can be very personally rewarding,” Fox said. “EMTs stand ever ready to answer the call and help people in their time of need.”

Registration is required by Oct. 2 and may be done by calling Barb Hadcock at Oswego County EMO at 315-591-9150. More information on the course is available by calling Fox at 315-591-9110.