Canajoharie Montgomery County Construction

Life getting sweeter for Canajoharie candy maker

It’s about more than candy.

The Richardson Brands manufacturing facility on Erie Boulevard in Canajoharie produces gum, mints and other treats, and is the world’s largest producer of rock candy – manufacturing more than half of the rock candy made worldwide, company officials said.

But five years ago, Richardson was busy trying to resurface from the June 2006 flood that caused about $8 million of damage at the facilities, cost the business about $10 million in revenue and set back the company’s strategic plan by four years.

Following the flood, Canajoharie’s then-largest employer, Beech-Nut, announced it was leaving for a facility in another Montgomery County town because of damage to the Canajoharie plant. Beech-Nut employed about 340 people at the Canajoharie plant when the company announced it would be moving to the town of Florida.

Richardson Brands officials, however, decided to stick around, and the business has consolidated two other companies into its plant – taking the spot as Canajoharie’s top employer.

 “Certainly, when you become the largest employer in town, there’s a social burden that’s put on your shoulders,” said Don Butte, Richardson Brands chief executive officer. “The best benefit we can bring to the village is to bring growth in employment.”

After adding about 70 jobs in the past year, Richardson now has about 215 employees in Canajoharie – up from about 100 in 2006, Butte said. The plan is to keep growing until the facility maxes out at about 300 employees, he said.

‘Step up’

Richardson Brands operates in two buildings across the street from each other that have been used to make candy since the 1920s. The importance of the company to the village can be seen by standing between the buildings on Erie Boulevard.

During a recent afternoon, about 15 workers on break stood outside one of the buildings. Part of the outside of the other building is coated with blue paint marking the level where the water reached in the June 2006 flood. And looking down the street, the back of the iconic Beech-Nut sign can be seen.

When asked how bad things could have become in Canajoharie if Richardson Brands left following the flood, Canajoharie village Mayor Francis Avery laughed.

“How bad indeed?” he said. “If they had left, a depression would have been a step up for us.

Law Enforcement Agencies Receive Grants to ... - Oneida County Courier

Law Enforcement Agencies Receive Grants to Expand Video Recording

(May 2011) District attorney’s offices in 22 counties across Upstate New York have received $477,836 in grants that they will distribute to police departments and sheriff’s offices in their jurisdictions so those agencies can institute or expand the practice of video recording interviews of suspects in custody.

Awarded by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the one-time grants will fund equipment purchase and installation; funding is made possible through the federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program.

This the fourth round of grants that DCJS has awarded to support video recording of custodial interrogations, which has been endorsed as a best practice by the New York State District Attorneys’ Association, the New York State Sheriffs’ Association and the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. In December, those associations, along with the New York City Police Department and New York State Police, adopted statewide protocols designed to ensure the integrity of the practice. The New York State Bar Association also is a staunch advocate of the practice and has provided funding for its implementation in five counties.

All told, DCJS has invested more than $2 million in federal Byrne JAG money to assist local law enforcement with this initiative. Recordings capture critical evidence needed in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases and preserve information used to resolve a person’s claim of innocence.

“New York State is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance the integrity of the criminal justice system,” DCJS Acting Commissioner Sean M. Byrne said. “Video recording custodial interviews allows local law enforcement to preserve evidence, safeguard the rights of the accused and protect police officers from false claims. I commend police and prosecutors from agencies large and small for embracing this important public safety initiative.”

These grants will allow law enforcement officials in 13 counties – Allegany, Delaware, Essex, Lewis, Montgomery, Oswego, Orleans, Putnam, Schuyler, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Wayne and Yates – to institute the practice while their colleagues in nine others – Cayuga, Chenango, Dutchess, Jefferson, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Saratoga and Westchester – will enhance existing programs.

Stephen P. Younger, president of the state Bar Association, said: “Recording an interrogation on videotape can expose a false confession – or remove doubt about the fairness of the interrogation process. In either case, justice is served.

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