WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-12-24

The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care through the recently signed PACT Act. Peter Potter of the VA in Albany told WCDO News that veterans can come to the Albany VA clinic where they are staffed to help eligible vets:

(Peter Potter 3-12-24)

Potter said that Veterans from all branches are eligible, they can go to VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to get additional information.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that a new VA clinic will be opening soon at the Foxcare Center in Oneonta, replacing the one that has been in Bainbridge for several years, Peter Potter of the Albany Veterans Affairs office said that the clinics usage is examined every 5 years, and usage of the Bainbridge clinic was down:

(Peter Potter 10-17-22)

Potter said that the opening date for the new VA Clinic at Foxcare will likely be early December, and the Bainbridge office will remain open until the Friday before the Oneonta Office opens.

Congressman Anthony Brindisi announced today that the VA Clinic in Bainbridge will remain open.  Brindisi stated that the US House passed his legislation to protect the Bainbridge VA clinic as part of the annual Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill.  More than 3,600 Veterans reside in Chenango County.

Congressman Anthony Brindisi fought to protect the
Bainbridge VA clinic in Chenango County at a House Veterans’ Affairs Health
Subcommittee hearing Wednesday, and confirmed with Dr. Richard Stone of the Veterans’
Health Administration that the clinic will not close in December 2019, as was
previously proposed. Brindisi invited Stone to visit the Bainbridge facility
and see firsthand the need it fills for Chenango County Veterans.  More than 3,600 Veterans reside in Chenango
County.

The contract to keep the Veterans Affairs Clinic on State Route 7 in Bainbridge will expire at the end of the year, they see between 75 to 100 Veterans a day, and are scheduled to get a 2nd doctor to serve their, yet the facility may be moved to Oneonta. Ruth Tompkins of Chenango Links said that their group is trying to keep the clinic in Bainbridge:

(Ruth Tompkins 6-12-18)

Tompkins said that Chenango Links is urging area veterans & residents to contact Congresswoman Claudia Tenney or Congressman John Faso to try to get the Bainbridge clinic, with 2 doctors, renewed before the end of the year. Tompkins said that such efforts worked in 2014, when then-Congressman Richard Hanna successfully kept the clinic from moving from Bainbridge.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County will be sponsoring farmers’ markets for the 2018 season in Sidney, Walton and Deposit. The Sidney Farmers Market will be held at the Video Entertainment parking lot, 89 Main Street Every other Tuesday from July 10 to September 18, the Walton Farmers Market will be at the Veterans Plaza, 181 Delaware Street, Every other Friday from July 6 to September 28, & the Deposit Farmers Market will be at the First United Methodist Church, on August 16 & September 20, all Markets are open from 10:00 to 2:00 pm.

A decision could come next week on the Division of Veterans Affairs re-opening an office in Sidney, local assemblyman Cliff Crouch explains:

(Cliff Crouch 6-22-17)

The previous office was closed after the Division learned that a rent was being charged to stay in the Sidney Civic Center, after the village of Sidney sold the building to a private developer, prior to the sale, the village allowed the office to be in the building at no charge.

Delaware County Public Health announced another Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats and ferrets today, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, at the Masonville Fire Hall. Previous vaccination records are requested to verify if pets are eligible for 3-year coverage. More information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in New York are relatively good at seeing patients promptly, though some upstate veterans face waits of a month or more. 36 of the 58 VA facilities analyzed met the VA's timeliness goal, which calls for patients to be seen within 30 days - better than 99% of the time. Locally, the Binghamton VA Clinic successfully saw their patients within a month at a 96.5% rate.