Paul Szmal: Our guest on FLX Morning represents the 54th Senate District. Senator Pam Helming's back with us. Good morning. Good morning, Ted. Some exciting news this week. Tell us about Pathways to Prosperity. What is that?
Pam Helming: Pathways to Prosperity was a program that my office created. We kicked off our first program this week. We worked with Wayne County Community Schools in a study work program and Executive Director Jay Roscop. For those who aren't familiar with Wayne County Community Schools and the study work program, it's absolutely incredible. And I have to go back for a moment. As I travel around the district and around the state, to be honest with you, and I meet with small business owners, and even the family farms, they're struggling primarily with the challenges associated with finding qualified workers. And honestly, they're willing to train, they're willing to invest in their workers, they realize how important that is, but they're just struggling to find enough workers to staff their businesses.
And study work program is absolutely wonderful through the Wayne Community Schools because it identifies students who are maybe struggling in school, who need some additional support. And they found that by partnering with local businesses, they're able to connect these kids in a way that is meaningful to them, engage them in a job where they get paid, and also where they get help with their education. So the program that I held earlier this week is absolutely fantastic. We probably had 50, 60 businesses and organizations there to learn more about the program.
But Ted, I have to say the most inspiring thing for me is one of the students in the study work program. He's a student at Newark High School. His name is Richie. He talked about his experience and how the study work program has really changed his life for the better. He is now working almost full time through study work and really out there talking to other students and getting them involved, engaged. And what he found his passion was, it's working with younger people. And like I said, he has just grown and blossomed. And if we can do more of this, it's only going to be good for the community as a whole.
Paul Szmal: It's really amazing to me how many kids and adults that the only thing they really lack is some kind of opportunity. And when you give them one, they run with it.
Pam Helming: Yes, that is such a great way to kind of summarize this too. They just need to be shown the opportunities that are out there. And that was the whole premise of coming up with this Pathways to Prosperity. How do we show these young students that there are opportunities that are out there? And that when they graduate from high school, they don't have to leave our state. We need them here and there are good opportunities for them here.
I have to say too, for anyone, as we get to this time of year, some businesses are thinking about holiday celebrations and more. At our Pathways to Prosperity program, the study work food service team put together an incredible breakfast buffet. So anyone's out there looking for a caterer, I'm putting in a plug for the study work food service team.
Paul Szmal: It's interesting because I did an interview earlier this week. There's a similar program through the Rochester Manufacturers Association called Fly App, the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program. And it's the same sort of thing. It sets kids up with apprenticeships in the manufacturing trades.
Pam Helming: That's absolutely fantastic. I know we have apprenticeship programs similar to that in the electrical trades and in I think it's the pipe fitting trades. All of these opportunities are absolutely fantastic. And as a state senator, these are the type of programs that I would like to see more resources go to. Because again, you know, they support our local businesses, which create job opportunities for these students. And they also show these students the opportunities and open doors for them that keep them engaged, that keep them active as productive citizens.
Richie told the story about how he was just hanging out at home, didn't like going to school, was getting in trouble because he thought that's what people of his age where he lived, that's what they did. And then when he was connected, and it was kind of a fluke how he was connected. Like I said, he has just grown and blossomed and has become this absolutely fantastic speaker, representative of the program, and just so motivating to hear him speak. He may be someone you want to have on the program at some point.
Paul Szmal: Wow, yeah. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, of course, and I know you like to highlight it every time it comes around, the opportunities to get screened. I know that Finger Lakes Health, UR Medicine, Finger Lakes Health in our area, has walk-in screening mammograms that they do for free. And for people in the more rural areas, UR Medicine has their mobile mammogram machine.
Pam Helming: Yes, there are a number of opportunities for women and men to get screened. And it's so important. Early detection is everything in saving a life. This year we're partnering again with Rochester Regional Health for annual mobile mammography events. And if anyone is interested in scheduling an appointment, they can go to the Rochester Regional Health website, or as you said, U of R also has opportunities, and Finger Lakes Community Health has opportunities for screening as well. But to everyone out there, it's a simple screening, it's non-invasive, and again, it's so early. It's so important to do the screening and to have early detection.
Paul Szmal: I'm a big supporter of libraries, of course, and in the 54th District, a bunch of the libraries just received some capital funding through a state program.
Pam Helming: Yes, so back in 2021, you know, we've really been pushed, and Ted, you and I've been talking about for years, about how we need to expand opportunities for our small libraries and our rural libraries. And in 2021, we were able to do that. We expanded funding under the library construction aid program. So this is, I feel like, the first full year of that funding, and there were significant awards made to the entire 54th Senate District, but most of our libraries in Ontario County did receive funding, which is a positive thing. And again, just putting a plug out there for our libraries, for people who think of libraries in the traditional respect that it's a place where you go to get a book to take home to read, libraries are so much more than that. Stop in, check them out. You can get a fishing pole, and I think a temporary fishing license to go out and try fishing. You can get a pass to visit state parks. There are so many resources that are available. Need help with your taxes, have questions about anything, go check out your local library.
Paul Szmal: Well, and I always like to remind people too, especially patrons of the smaller libraries, who don't think that there's much available, that all these libraries are part of the regional networks. In the northern half of our listening area, there's OWL, and then in the southern half, there's a Southern Tier Library System, because being married to a librarian, I have an insight on some of this stuff. When I want a book, I just email my wife with a title, and two or three days later, I've got it.
Pam Helming: You know, that's such a great reminder. I know, sometimes I don't have the time to get to my local library, so I use the Libby app, and with my local library card, I'm able to download books as well, so I have them instantaneously.
Paul Szmal: We've been talking for several months now about your support for EMS agencies, and the difficulties they go through, because the insurance reimbursements don't keep up, and they're having a hard time finding help, and the governor signed some EMS-related bills recently. Tell us what she did.
Pam Helming: Yes, so she signed a bill, which I co-sponsored, which will allow our ambulance and EMS professionals to be reimbursed for treatment in place, and transport to non-hospital facilities, and that's really important, because so often, when 911 EMS goes out in response to a 911 call, they're able to treat the person at their home, their place of business, wherever they happen to be, but in the past, they were not able to submit for reimbursement for that. The only time they could get paid is if they transported a person to a hospital, so that's the second piece, that they'll be reimbursed for transport to non-hospital facilities, like an urgent care center or a substance use treatment center, and this is so important, not only that EMS will get paid, but it will also help us reduce the crowding and the wait times at the emergency rooms, which really should only be used for more significant or severe events, so that's great news for our local EMS providers, and great, great legislation. I'm thrilled that the governor signed both bills.
Paul Szmal: Talking with State Senator Pam Helming this morning, one of the things you like to do when you're back in the district is just call attention to people who've been doing great things, like businesses, one of which is Dipper Dan's Ice Cream in Honeoye Falls. They celebrated their 35th anniversary. Before you talk about that, about them, what kind of ice cream did you get?
Pam Helming: So, I got a chocolate milkshake. Oh, so tell us about this business. I haven't had a milkshake in years, but I knew I had to get back in my car and drive, so milkshake was easiest to manage, but Dipper Dan's is a family-owned business. John Moffitt, he's a supervisor. The town of Mendon and two of his sisters are the current owners. Their parents started the business back in the 30s. It's located in Honeoye Falls, and for anyone who's looking to take a drive, go check it out. It is such a cute ice cream shop, kind of like has that old-fashioned vibe to it. They have a huge selection of ice creams, which is one reason why I took the easy route, too, and just got the chocolate milkshake, because there are so many phenomenal choices, but it's great to recognize these local businesses that, you know, they do so much for our communities, and they don't look for anything in return, but it's great to acknowledge the service that they provide and the job opportunities that they provide for area people.
Paul Szmal: Now, another one, I won't ask you what you got here, but I'm a frequent patron myself, and that's Ryan's Wines and Spirits in Canandaigua.
Pam Helming: Yeah, so Ryan's, they're celebrating their 60th anniversary tomorrow, so if anyone is interested in stopping by, I believe the festivities start around three o'clock. I'm going to be presenting them with a surprise, the New York State Empire Award. It's such, the Empire Award recognizes local businesses that go above and beyond, and that's exactly what Ryan's does. They have been huge supporters of Happy Tails, the Ontario County Humane Society. They've done so much with Embrace Your Sisters Breast Cancer Organization and the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. That's how I met one of the owners, through BCCR. They're huge supporters of Family Promise of Ontario County. They have just done so much, so I'm really looking forward to going out there tomorrow and recognizing them, not only again for the 60 years of being a local business that's provided job opportunities to literally dozens and dozens of people, but for everything they do to give back to the community and support the community.
Paul Szmal: One last thing, since the last time we talked, this is on your Senate webpage. It was an article published by Spectrum News, and that is that the Governor is considering creating the Rural Suicide Commission, a bill that you have sponsored. So, have you heard anything more as to whether she's going to sign it?
Pam Helming: Ted, I have not heard anything more, and I've reached out twice to the Governor's office. This is a good bill. The Rural Suicide Prevention Council would come up with actionable items that we could do in our rural communities to prevent suicide. You know, there is report after report that shows that rural suicides are twice as many as in our urban areas, and we think that some of that is due to the location of services being primarily in urban settings. So, my bill would just create this task force so we could figure out what it is we need in our rural communities, and unfortunately, I'm beginning to get a little discouraged because September was National Suicide Prevention Month. So, I was thinking that if the Governor was going to sign that, she would have done it last month, but she still has until the end of the year, and I still have up on my website a letter people could sign urging the Governor to sign this bill into law.
Paul Szmal: I mean, it's disappointing that she hasn't signed it yet. This passed both houses, the Senate and the Assembly. It's my bill. I sponsor it, and as a minority member, to be able to get it passed in both houses, I think, is a sign that it's a good bill, and it's something that is justified and that is needed. So, still holding out hope that the Governor will sign before the end of the year.
Pam Helming: All right, we'll keep an eye out. State Senator Pam Helming, representing the 54th District, thanks for what you do, and thanks for sharing your time with us so graciously each month.
Paul Szmal: Thank you, Ted.
