Inside the FLX

Ann Marie Heizmann has spent a large chunk of her time in recent years advocating on behalf of local farmers. And while ordinary circumstances would have made that a hot topic during this year's campaign process in the Republican Primary for New York State Assembly in the 131st District -- this year has been anything but ordinary . Heizmann sits down with Josh Durso to discuss the issues ahead of...

As the Coronavirus Pandemic impacts more-and-more events, one organization that covers Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Yates counties has kept going. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester serves a large part of the Finger Lakes, and CEO Lisa Mattoon joins us for an important conversation about the work they do. Listen, watch, and subscribe today.

Are small businesses being helped? The answer is a resounding 'yes' for Steve Bulger, who serves as U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Admin for the Mid Atlantic region. He joined Josh Durso for an at-length conversation about the program, its effectiveness, and what's next for small businesses. 

Last week Wells College President Dr. Jonathan Gibralter published a stunning letter, which left the college- and regional community in shock. It simply said: If students cannot return on-campus this fall - Wells College will not survive. He assumed the presidency in 2015; and it's safe to say that this letter was the most-significant of his tenure. What's next for Wells College?  Is this an...

While New York State Gas and Electric, or NYSEG, and Rochester Gas & Electric, or RG&E, have received a lot of headline attention for their charitable contributions to local and regional food banks - their response to the Coronavirus Pandemic has been among the more interesting. President Carl Taylor spoke with FingerLakes1.com about that response effort, both from operations and community...

This week on Inside the FLX a conversation with Steve Keeler. He leads the school of media and arts at Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York. The conversation was wide-ranging, but included discussion about the future of the news business, as layoffs and furloughs make headlines of their own. Check it out here or on FingerLakes1.com.

The Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board, or Finger Lakes Works for short, is contending with some of the biggest questions the region faces moving forward. In particular, they are wrestling with questions about workforce makeup following the pandemic. As the economy reopens and people go back to work, Michael Woloson, who serves as Business Services Coordinator for the organization is working...

South Seneca Superintendent Stephen Parker Zielinski is looking at ways to keep his district whole after this pandemic. It's already become clear that a major funding loss is en route. So, the district is working to understand what comes next. Here is our full-conversation with Zielinski as he outlines response to the pandemic, and what comes next.

Today on Inside the FLX a conversation with Peter Mantius. He founded The Water Front Online, which is dedicated to reporting on environmental issues in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Western New York, and Upstate New York at-large. This week, Mantius gives an update on the four biggest environmental stories of 2020, with the context of a global pandemic, which paints a picture about how some of...

How are schools going to function moving forward? Stephen Parker Zielinski is the superintendent of schools at South Seneca. It's a smaller, rural district, and we wanted to catch up to ask him about potential budget cuts, navigating a pandemic on limited staffing, and what some of his expectations were moving forward. While he said the plans in place right now, to not only educate - but feed stud...

This week on Inside the FLX, our full-conversation with New York State Assembly Candidate Matt Miller. The Canandaigua resident is a frontline worker during the pandemic - working at a local wine store - and has maintained his effort to be elected in the 131st. That district has been controlled by Republicans, namely Assemblyman Brian Kolb for much of the last three decades. Miller is optimistic t...

When Leslie Danks Burke set out to run for New York State Senate in the 58th District she could not have imagined what this campaign would look like. Even the most-astute politicians have been thrown for a loop by the Coronavirus pandemic. Traditional campaigning has been turned into virtual town hall events -- conducted over Zoom or Skype. Door-to-door petitioning was shut down as it became clear...

The Seward House in Auburn, New York is an historic landmark. It's a space that serves a major role in local history, as well as American history. The Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19 has made running a museum and local landmark a challenge, but those who carry on the legacy haven't given up. Jeff Ludwig, who leads the educational effort at the facility catches up with Josh Durso on Inside the FLX t...

It is truly rare for an entire economy to stop. Except that is essentially what we’ve seen in response to the Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19. The pandemic that started in China, spread to other European countries like Italy with devastating result — is now putting an intense burden on the U.S. healthcare system. Hospitals are stressed, supplies are running low, and in an effort to stop ‘the wave’...

Michael Kracker has been leading the business advocacy group Unshackle Upstate for several years. He's been a guest on Inside the FLX before, and this week, he's in the FingerLakes1.com Studio for another conversation.  On Episode #226 Kracker discusses the 2020 proposals, the budget process, and so much more. 

On this special roundtable edition of "Inside the FLX" former Congresswomen Loretta Sanchet and Ann-Marie Buerkle reflect upon their careers in Congress as women, discuss how to act in bipartisan fashion when addressing abortion and reproductive rights and weigh-in on the female candidates that once comprised the 2020 Democratic Primary field inside the WEOS Finger Lakes Public Radio studio in Gen...

Former Canandaigua City Councilor Cindy Wade has entered the race for the 131st District. The Republican is looking to succeed longtime Assemblyman and former Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, who announced his retirement earlier this year. On Episode #222 of the Inside the FLX podcast Wade gives us some insight into her run, and what issues are most-important to her.

Casey McDonald is running for Congress. At least that's the goal. For the last several months he's been working to help residents understand the choice they have as petitions go out. If he can secure enough, he will challenge Rep. Tom Reed in June's primary.

John Kane, the host of “Let’s Talk Native,” the only native program in Western New York spoke with FingerLakes1.com on episode #221 of “Inside the FLX.” During the conversation, Kane confirmed circulating rumors that the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Grand Council has decided to call-out for an estimated 30 to 40 Onondaga Nation men to descend upon Seneca Falls in the aftermath of the violent brawl la...

On episode #220 of the Inside the FLX podcast Gabriel Galanda, the managing lawyer of Galanda Broadman, an Indigenous rights law firm stationed out of Seattle, Washington weighs in on the latest chapter of the longstanding Cayuga Nation faction conflict. Last week, a hostile takeover included destruction of several buildings along State Route 89 in the town of Seneca Falls. Galanda called the acti...

Manchester Town Supervisor Jeff Gallahan was the first Republican to enter the race to succeed longtime Assemblyman Brian Kolb in the 131st District. On episode #219 of the Inside the FLX podcast, he goes in-depth on the issues, as we take a closer look at his campaign to represent the heart of the Finger Lakes in Albany.

On Thursday Vincent Esposito, Finger Lakes Regional Director of Empire State Development was in-studio ahead of a State of the State address scheduled in Seneca Falls. The discussion focused on economic development, rural communities in the Finger Lakes, success stories in recent years, as well as the areas most-needing improving as the state continues on its mission to develop local economies in...

On episode #217 of Inside the FLX it's a closer look at another New York State Assembly contest in the Finger Lakes. This one, which is shaping up in the 130th District, where Democrat Scott Comegys is looking to challenge Republican Brian Manktelow, an incumbent from Lyons. He discusses his campaign, the big issues, and how he feels voters in Wayne and Cayuga counties should be represented.

Jeff Shipley is running for New York State Assembly. The president and CEO of the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce announced his candidacy on February 18th and since then, has been actively campaigning ahead of the petition signing process. Shipley visited the FingerLakes1.com Studio to discuss his campaign, the issues he feels most-important for the region, and how he would legislate if selected...

On Episode #214 of Inside the FLX it's a conversation with Congressional Candidate Dr. Scott Noren. He says political parties and affiliation should not be the primary driving force in the electoral process - rather representation should take center stage. He's looking to elevate the profile of the Southern Tier through his candidacy. Watch the interview here.