Paul Szmal: And welcome to FLX Morning here on Finger Lakes News Radio, 736, far cry temperature wise from what it was 24 hours ago. We do have some snow moving into the area and through the area, we're at 31 and it feels like 22. Yesterday, it felt like single digits. Joining us on the line this morning is Assemblyman John LaMondas. John, good morning. How are you this morning, sir?
John Lemondes: Good morning. I'm fantastic. Thank you for having me.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, I appreciate having you on board here this morning. I wanted to ask you about holiday traditions in the LaMondas household. Are there certain things that you do this time of year, whether it's shopping together, putting the tree together, those kinds of things?
John Lemondes: Of course. We do. We always cut a live tree together. We put it up together. Somehow I end up taking it down, though. But we do do all the installation together, but we do lots of other things. You know, we have a wonderful meal on Christmas Day. We have a nice, usually Christmas Day is turkey and Christmas Eve is prime rib or something fantastic like that. And you know, in addition, I try to spend some extra time with my kids as well, doing something that they like to do. The nice thing is the way it works out, you know, the newest legislative term doesn't start until January. So you actually get to be home for the holidays. I know, you know, I've got it in my hand and this one is this one is shorter than last year. You know, if it sticks to the schedule that we have, but that's because of the primary season. So that's why that's the way that it is. And, you know, we'll start the first day is the seventh. We're already working hard, though. And we've put together, you know, I've put together several letters to the governor for various financial things. And I hope she listens. I hope she I hope she will fund some of them. You know, it's unrealistic to think that that she's going to agree with everything. But, you know, that's our process. And so far it's worked. And I'm going to continue working on behalf of the constituents here in the 126.
Paul Szmal: So I've been asking people that have been coming on the show here, do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
John Lemondes: Oh, Christmas morning.
Paul Szmal: Ah, old school traditionalist like me. There you go.
John Lemondes: Yeah, there you go. But for my from my wife's family, one of the things that we've incorporated is her her family always gets pajamas matching on Christmas Eve.
Paul Szmal: Oh, yes. One little exception there.
John Lemondes: Yeah. Yeah. We actually did that a couple of years ago with my in-laws. We all got a matching National Lampoon's Christmas vacation pajamas that are you serious, Clark on the shirt?
Paul Szmal: I love that. I still wear those all through the all through the winter. They're comfy and they're warm. So, hey.
John Lemondes: Right. Of course. Yeah.
Paul Szmal: We're talking with Assemblyman John LaMondis here on FLX morning on Finger Lakes News Radio. One of the important things to remember around the holiday season is just to try to keep things safe. And that's especially important for people that have natural Christmas trees like you do. One of the important safety tips is to make sure that tree doesn't dry out too much.
John Lemondes: Oh, yeah. You know, I water mine every day and we make sure that it's got plenty of water. And you're absolutely right. You know, although we're approaching Christmas and the holiday season, February is the worst month of the year for fires, you know, for home fires and and drier fires and things like that. And so I would just urge everyone, just take a look around your house and, you know, you don't have to have a fire extinguisher in every room like I do. But we have two wood stoves. We have we burn a lot of wood to heat and we live in a nice kind of a post and beam home. And so I have a fire extinguisher in every room. And, you know, for for your average suburban home, at least one in the kitchen, maybe one in the garage, one in the basement, one on every level, it's not I don't I don't think that's overkill. I think that's money well spent for protection for your home. And especially, you know, that that all everybody that lives in the home, all children old enough to understand, know where those extinguishers are and how to operate them as well.
Paul Szmal: Absolutely. Also important to check those periodically and make sure that they're not past their freshness state, so to speak.
John Lemondes: Right, right. And I found that before, you know, I had I kept one for a really long time just to see and you know what, it didn't work. So that's a really, really important point.
Paul Szmal: Yeah. Any any other things that you pay attention to around the holidays from a safety standpoint that maybe aren't so much of a worry the rest of the year?
John Lemondes: Yes, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to everybody about this, I think, you know, even though. We all drive, we're all accustomed to cold weather, having an emergency kit in your car is critical. And I know a lot of people don't do that. They don't think they need it. But I'll give you an example of something that happened to me, which which changed my perspective on this. I was in a a traffic jam in Washington, D.C. for several hours on a terrible, nasty day like today, blizzard conditions. And there was a huge pile up. And in situations like that, it's great to have a little food, a little water, a blanket, you know, where you may run the risk of running out of gas because the the emergency crews just can't get everything cleared in a timely manner as a result of the complications of the weather. And this this happened. I mean, I was in that traffic jam on ninety five for hours.
Paul Szmal: Oh, it was on ninety five. I was on ninety five. That is the worst there in the Beltway.
John Lemondes: Right. Right. And I think so in our climate, although some people might scoff at it, I don't need an emergency kit. You never know when you're going to need it or you never you're you're never you know, you don't know when somebody that you stop to assist might need it, too. And that's another important point. Do you have the ability to assist somebody on on our roadways when they need it? When when you might be the only person passing them, you know, you might be your only chance for for rescue or survival.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, yeah, for sure. You wanted to mention something to area farmers. I want to make sure we get that in.
John Lemondes: Yes. Thank you. So I want to I just want to remind all farmers and everybody in the agricultural supply chain that's authorized to take the farmer market nutrition program coupons. Those are the five dollar coupons. The farm has to have an FM and P.I.D. number with AG and markets. But those are the suspense for redemption on those is December 15th. So please don't forget and send them in after that. You've got to get them in before the 15th so you don't lose your money. And then for farms that accept the Fresh Connect checks program coupons, those are the two dollar coupons. The suspense for that is January 15th. So please don't forget the state's not obligated to reimburse you if you submit them late. So please get them in on time.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, it's important to remember those deadlines. So as we get a little bit closer to the holidays, have you have you finished up the shopping yet?
John Lemondes: Ted, I haven't started.
Paul Szmal: OK, are you are you traditionally a late starter or?
John Lemondes: I am, you know, I have I keep going at 60 years old. Do you think I would change this behavior? But I go back and forth, especially for my kids. You know, should I do this? Should I do that? And, you know, here I am in the same space I was last year and the year before. I haven't done anything yet.
Paul Szmal: You're not one of those, though, that waits until Christmas Eve, right?
John Lemondes: No, no, no.
Paul Szmal: OK, I've known a couple of people that have done that as a matter of either choice or necessity. And I know some people still do it. I just don't know how you can, especially especially in this day and age, more and more people seem to be buying their stuff online instead of going out and buying local. And really, you know, buying local is extremely important, especially at this time of year.
John Lemondes: Absolutely. And I would encourage everyone to really think, you know, do you really want that foreign product or do you want local domestic product? And almost everything you need can be can be purchased that right in your own community. And most of the things, you know, can be manufactured locally. And to your point, it is really. It makes me a little sad when I see people with an attitude of indifference towards this. And you see it all the time, especially if you look. Some people just don't understand your point about buying local and the importance of buying local and keeping that money home, so to speak. That helps every community get stronger.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, important words to important words to remember this time of year and year round, I mean, you know, but especially during the holidays, you know, even if you're an online shopper, a lot of local businesses now have websites where you can buy online. So that makes it convenient for you and it helps them at the same time.
John Lemondes: Right. I couldn't think of too many businesses that don't have an online presence. I think it's it's, you know, it's absolutely critical in today's world and and that helps too. I mean, it makes the whole shopping experience sometimes for people that are that may be immobile or elderly can't get out. It doesn't you know, they can still or they're dependent on somebody someone else to help them. They can still use a computer and still do most of the things that they would have done if they were if they were going in person. But I think, you know, to your point, that online presence is critical and it enables a lot of people, a lot of people to do things that they might otherwise not have been able to.
Paul Szmal: All right. To wrap things up here, would you like to send out a specific holiday message or holiday wish to everyone, John?
John Lemondes: Sure, absolutely. And thank you. I sure hope everybody just takes a huge time out, especially from all things political, and just enjoy your friends and family. And I think that's really good for everybody at the personal level, at the family level and in our communities as well. So please enjoy whatever you celebrate. Enjoy your festivities, your traditions and and have a most wonderful and blessed time.
Paul Szmal: All right. Thank you so much, John. And I hope you have a great Christmas, New Year's and a holiday season.
John Lemondes: Thank you.
Paul Szmal: That's Assemblyman John Lamondis joining us here on FLX Morning. It is 748.
