Joe Robach and his office would like to remind residents that the deadline is near for our state’s STAR tax relief program.

New York State’s School Tax Relief Program—or STAR—lowers property taxes for owner-occupied primary residences. There are two types of benefits, Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR. There is no age limit to Basic STAR and the program is available to property owners earning less than $500,000 per year.

Basic STAR exempts the first $30,000 of the full value of a home from school taxes and once approved, you need not reapply each year, unless you move to a new primary residence.  Property owners who are turning 65 or older this year with a total annual income of $79,050 or less are eligible for Enhanced STAR.

Enhanced STAR provides even greater savings for homeowners by exempting the first $63,300 of the full value of your home from school taxes. The STAR program is administered locally, you can obtain and file applications at your town assessor’s office through March 1st. The deadline for residents in the City of Rochester is February 1st each year.

You can also click here (http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star/index.htm) or call the STAR hotline at 1-877-678-2769 for more information.  Questions?  Contact the office of Joe Robach.

February is Youth Leadership Month, which makes it the perfect time to highlight the New York State Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Awards program sponsored by Joe Robach’s Office, which helps recognize and honor outstanding students who will become our future leaders.

Joe Robach and his office want to know if you know a successful high school student?  If so, nominate them for the New York State Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Awards program sponsored by Joe Robach.  Teachers and school staff can nominate a student by writing a brief recommendation letter and having the student fill out an online nomination form.  Nominations may come from teachers, administrators, counselors or other school faculty.  Winners will be acknowledged by Senator Joe Robach and presented with a certificate of recognition at a congratulatory ceremony.  In addition, their stories will be highlighted on the Senator’s website.

For a detailed description of the Senate program visit www.robach.nysenate.gov or stop in Joe Robach’s office.

With the cold weather upon us, Joe Robach’s office has a few helpful tips in order to stay warm and safe.

Don’t stay outside too long. The cold weather can be nice, although if you stay outside too long it can be hazardous to your health causing you to have frostbite or even hypothermia.  Go in and out in order to keep yourself warm and avoid any harm to your body.

Check the weather beforehand. Certain details like the low of the day and whether it will snow or rain, can help you figure out how to dress and what kind of activities to plan. Check the weather forecast for the whole week, so you can be prepared for the cold days in advance.  The cold weather can be nice, although if you stay outside too long it can be hazardous to your health causing you to have frostbite or even hypothermia.  Go in and out in order to keep yourself warm and avoid any harm to your body.

Think about the activities you’re doing. Choose your activities wisely. Try to do things that won’t be affected by the cold weather. For example, anything indoors is fine including going to the movies or bowling. You could also do things that involve the cold weather, such as ice skating.

Dress appropriately. If you’re going to be out in the extreme cold, wear as much warm clothing as possible. Try to dress in layers so that you can add or remove clothes throughout the day. If it’s not too cold, then you can just take clothes off rather than good items of clothing for the cold weather might include:

• Thermals. You can buy thermal clothing simply wear them under your clothes. Thermals are great for layers and extreme cold. Long socks or leg warmers. These will keep your legs warm more closely, rather than just wearing pants and ordinary socks. Plus, nobody will see them when you wear pants.
• Jackets. A good, thick zip up jacket is perfect for cold weather. It’s warm, but also easy to put on and off.
Other accessories such as gloves, scarves and beanies are essential due to a majority of your body heat is released from your head.
Be prepared for all conditions.
• If you are outside remember to wear shoes with excellent grip for icy and slippery conditions.
• Wear mittens and long thick socks. These protect your hands and feet from the cold, which are the hardest places to keep warm blood flowing during cold weather conditions
• If you’re dressed for work, going to the gym, or have to wait for outside for transportation then wearing a polar fleece or sweatshirt that zips on works great. They zip on and off quickly and don’t have to worry about getting too hot or cold.
 
Think about the activities you’re doing. Choose your activities wisely. Try to do things that won’t be affected by the cold weather. For example, anything indoors is fine including going to the movies or bowling. You could also do things that involve the cold weather, such as ice skating.

If you are outside remember to wear shoes with excellent grip for icy and slippery conditions.  For more information, contact the office of Joe Robach.

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos and Senator Catharine Young said recently that enacting a stronger, permanent Kendra’s Law must be a priority for the 2013 session, and should be included in any legislative agreement on gun safety.  This initiative is strongly supported by Joe Robach of the NYS Senate.

Kendra’s Law was enacted in 1999 and authorizes court ordered assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) for individuals who voluntarily won’t seek help but are a safety threat.  The law is designed to prevent serious harm to the mentally ill person and others. 

Senator Young has proposed the following changes to improve Kendra’s Law to eliminate loopholes that could lead to more people falling through the cracks in the system, resulting in more tragedies:

•Making Kendra’s Law permanent. Since its enactment, Kendra’s Law has been effective for five-year periods.  Without legislative action, the provisions of the law will expire on June 30, 2015. 
•Changing the period which a court may order AOT from six months to up to one year.  This measure provides judicial flexibility, and studies have indicated that longer periods of treatment, when appropriate, have been shown to be more effective.
•Ensuring that those who move during the AOT period continue to receive proper treatment.
•Requiring an evaluation when mental health patients are released from inpatient treatment or incarceration to ensure that AOT is provided when necessary so people needing services do not fall through the cracks. 
•Requiring the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to develop an educational pamphlet on the AOT process of petitioning so that family members have information on how to file a report.  Oftentimes, loved ones are at a loss and feel helpless about how they can help their mentally ill family member.

Kendra’s Law is named in honor of Kendra Webdale, of Fredonia, in Senator Young’s district. On January 3, 1999, a man with a long history of schizophrenia pushed Kendra, 32, in front of an oncoming subway train.  Witnesses said Kendra’s attacker, 29-year-old Andrew Goldstein, did not flee the scene. Instead, stopping just feet from the subway exit, Goldstein quietly stated, “I’m crazy. I’m psychotic. Take me to the hospital.” In a news interview just days ago, Andrew Goldstein called for restructuring Kendra’s Law to make it stronger to help prevent people with mental illness from harming themselves or others.

A 2009 Duke University study showed that AOT significantly reduces physical harm to others.  This study also showed it vastly improves the quality of life for people with severe mental illness by reducing suicide attempts, hospitalizations, incarcerations, homelessness, and alcohol and drug abuse. 

Most people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness are not violent and studies show that those with mental illnesses are 11 times more likely to be victims of violence themselves.  Kendra’s Law would apply to a small segment of this community that poses a threat to themselves and others.  Strengthening Kendra’s Law could help ensure such individuals receive the medical treatment they need, and prevent tragedies like these in the future.

For more information on this Senate initiative, please contact Joe Robach or his office.

One service that Joe Robach’s office offers is that they carry tax forms. Joe Robach’s office has been providing this service since he was elected to public office in 1991.

Believe it or not, it has become harder and harder for individuals to pick up paper tax forms. The Internal Revenue Service and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance stopped the long time practice of sending tax forms in the mail to New York/US taxpayers. The IRS and Department of Tax stopped sending them for cost-saving purposes as well as the rising popularity of taxpayers doing their taxes online. However, may individuals, especially seniors, still like to mail in their tax forms directly to the Internal Revenue Service or the State of New York.

Aside from picking up tax forms at Joe Robach’s office, people can also pick them up at public libraries as well as in downtown Rochester at the Internal Revenue Service. Individuals can also download these forms online. For seniors looking for help with their taxes, they can find free tax help at the local AARP. The AARP will meet with seniors at any local community center to assist with taxes. For tax appointments with the AARP, taxpayers should call their local senior center.

Joe Robach’s office can usually also answer frequently asked tax form questions or point you in the right direction. Joe Robach’s office is located at 2300 West Ridge Road in the Town of Greece. For New Yorkers who have already filed their tax forms and would like to check on the status of their refund, there is a way to check. New Yorkers can visit www.irs.gov or www.tax.ny.gov or call (800) 829-1040 for federal return questions or (518) 457-5181 for state taxes.

According to Joe Robach’s office, effective January 19th, a new state law that Joe Robach supported will enhance the fight against breast cancer.
 
The new law requires that all mammography reports provided by doctors must now include a notification to patients when it is determined that they have dense breast tissue.  Patients also must be informed about the importance of discussing additional screening options with their doctor.  Joe Robach knows that early detection is the key to fighting breast cancer.  For more information about early detection, you can pick up informational brochures at the Senate office of Joe Robach. 
 
Research shows that dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to find cancer on a mammogram and may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.  But according to a recent poll, 95% of women are unaware of their own breast density.

This new law will help to ensure that women throughout New York have access to the important medical information they need to make smart decisions about their own health care.

For more information on the new breast density information law, please Joe Robach or his office.

By virtually all accounts, we are currently in the midst of a particularly bad flu season. With this in mind, Joe Robach and his office wanted to provide you with some helpful information about the flu, including how and where you and your family can get vaccinated.

According to the State Health Department, it’s not too late to get vaccinated for this year’s flu season, and most people 6 months and older are recommended to receive an influenza vaccination each year. The vaccine is especially important for people who run a high risk of developing serious complications. That includes pregnant women, children under 5 years old, adults aged 65 or older, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.

Joe Robach and his office encourage you to visit FLU.GOV for helpful facts on how to avoid getting the flu. This official government website also includes an easy-to-use Flu Vaccine Finder to help you find the most convenient place to get vaccinated. Simply enter your local zip code, and you will find a range of local options that are available. (Once you’ve identified a location, it makes sense to call ahead to verify the availability of the vaccine, as well as local hours of operation.)

Influenza, commonly referred to as the ‘flu’, is a severe respiratory illness that is easily spread and can lead to severe complications, even death. Each year in the U.S. on average, influenza and its related complications result in approximately 226,000 hospitalizations and over 23,600 deaths. Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the nation’s eighth leading cause of death.

Simply put, the flu can pose far greater health risks than those presented by a “common cold.” So it’s just good, old-fashioned common sense for you and your family to take all appropriate steps to avoid the flu and its potentially serious consequences.

If you want more information about the flu shot, please contact Joe Robach or his office.

Come to Joe Robach Office’s Job Fair on Thursday!  The office Joe Robach will again partner with MCC, Time Warner Cable and the August Group to offer a job fair!

The fair will be held at Monroe Community College on Wednesday, December 13th from 2PM to 5PM at the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, Monroe A & B. Joe Robach’s office last partnered with MCC and the August Group on a career fair in May of 2012. Some of the vendors at the last career fair were: 5Linx Enterprise; Admar Supply Company; Aflac NY; Angelo Planning Group; Baldwin Richardson Foods; Berry Plastics; Concentrix; Conserve; DeCarolis Truck Rental; Roberts Wesleyan College; The College at Brockport; Sutherland Global Services; University of Rochester; Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County; The ARC of Monroe County; and many more.

The event is free and open to the public. There is a small charge for employers who would like to participate. Joe Robach knows how many people are looking for a job and that is why he hosts this important fair – to link those seeking employment with local business managers looking for good people.

One very important partner of Joe Robach for this job fair is The August Group. The August Group is Rochester’s premier volunteer networking organization for individuals seeking employment or a career change. More specifically, The August Group is a volunteer organization committed to retaining local talent in the greater Rochester area by facilitating career and business networking for professionals. The August Group hosts weekly networking meetings for professionals at different locations, seminars and career fairs.

For those planning on attending the job fair, please bring several copies of your resume. If you need more information, contact Joe Robach’s office.

Joe Robach’s office would like New Yorkers to know about the Empire Passport.  The passport will provide all season enjoyment to park visitors through unlimited day-use vehicle entries to New York’s State parks and recreational facilities.  Joe Robach and his office know that state parks have so much to offer, and the Empire Passport is a great and inexpensive way for New Yorkers and out-of-state visitors to explore our parks all year round.

The Empire Passport comes in the form of a decal and is valid for one year beginning April 1, 2013 and ending March 31, 2014. The Empire Passport normally sells for $65.  This year, participating in its second ever Cyber Monday promotion, OPRHR sold 22,636 Empire Passports at the discounted rate of $40 on Monday, November 26th, Cyber Monday. The 2012 one day Empire Passport sales numbers reflect a 5000% increase from Cyber Monday 2011 numbers and amounted to $905,440 in revenue.

The 22,636 Empire Passport one day sales number accounts for 27% of all Empire Passports sold in 2011. Last year, 443 Empire Passports were sold on Cyber Monday when parks offered the passports at the regular price of $65 but included a free $25 camping gift card.

The Empire Passport remains available at the regular price ($65) and makes a great holiday gift. Visit http://nysparks.com/admission/empire-passport/ for more information on how to purchase a Passport. To ensure delivery by Christmas, please order by Dec. 10. Gift Cards for camping and golf are also available. Visit http://nysparks.com/admission/gift-card.aspx for more information.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 179 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 58 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.  Those interested can also contact the office of Joe Robach.

Joe Robach and his office want holiday shoppers to be prepared.  Therefore, Joe Robach wanted to share the following tips from the Consumer Reports website:

Be prepared. This means studying the ads before Black Friday. By now, most of the major retailers have released their Black Friday in-store specials, so check one of the comprehensive Black Friday-focused websites to see whether you’re getting the best deal.

Use social media Before you decide to buy, visit the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of your favorite retailers and see if they’re offering any incentives, such as discounts, when you “like” their page or follow them.

Get appy. Before you head out to the store, make sure your smart phone is charged and loaded with a few key comparison-shopping apps that will let you see special deals and compare prices while you’re in the store.

Create a budget—and stick to it. Many Black Friday sales, especially doorbuster specials that are typically available in limited quantities, are designed to get you into the store so retailers can try to sell you something more profitable.

Shop online first. Why leave the family and your comfy couch if you don’t really have to? Before you brave the crowds at the stores, check to see if the retailer is offering the same—or even better—deals on its website.

Shop close to home. If you find the best deals are in stores, you don’t necessarily need to drive all over town to get them. See if you can get a price-match guarantee. Often, stores say they’re suspending price-match guarantees during the Black Friday weekend, but you should ask for one anyway. After all, these are supposed to be “the lowest prices of the year!” Check specially priced “bundles.” Retailers—and sometimes, manufacturers—will often combine two or more items into a specially priced package they say will save you money.

Sign up for e-mail alerts. Many retailers now use e-mail alerts to encourage store loyalty and frequent shopping. Sign up for alerts that will let you know about upcoming promotions and to receive coupons or discounts.

Check the stores’ return policies. You may be familiar with your local chain’s return and exchange policies, but make sure that they aren’t different for a Black Friday special. Sometimes, Black Friday sales are final, meaning the item can’t be returned. Other items may have a shortened return or exchange policy, or one where you can get only a store credit and not a refund. Also, make sure the store isn’t charging a restocking fee on a returned item.

Check the warranty. If you’re loyal to a certain brand, you may feel you’re aware of its standard product warranty. But even major brands offer special “derivative” models during promotional periods such as Black Friday, and they may alter the terms of their standard warranties for these sets.

Buy the item you really want. Items designated as “doorbusters” draw us in because of their low prices, but they may not be the best products for your needs. I But avoid the old bait-and-switch trick. That said, if you’re really buying only on price, stick to your guns and don’t get pushed toward a more expensive model.

Don’t buy pricey accessories. Even if you’ve purchased the right TV at the best price of the year, it’s easy to be talked into buying pricey accessories.

For more information , contact the office Joe Robach.