A Message from the County Executive

Dear Neighbors:

As the school year wraps up and summer officially begins here in Onondaga County, I’m reminded of what makes this community so special: our willingness to support one another, celebrate together, and keep building a brighter future for every resident. This month’s newsletter highlights that spirit.

June gives us the chance to honor several important observances—Juneteenth, Pride Month, Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Alzheimer and Brain Awareness Month, D‑Day, Flag Day, and Women Veterans Day. Each one reflects the diverse stories and contributions that shape who we are. You’ll also find updates from across the county, including milestones in early childhood literacy, support for small businesses, investments in housing and economic growth, progress in agriculture, and new recreation and community initiatives.

And as summer gets underway, there’s so much to enjoy—our parks and trails, local farms, community events, or simply extra time with family and friends. However you choose to spend the season, I hope it brings you plenty of joy, rest, and connection.

Thank you for staying engaged, supporting your neighbors, and being an important part of our continued progress.

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and enjoyable start to the summer season.

Sincerely,

Ryan

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

Be proud of this moment and the hard work it took for you to arrive here. Now, let your potential take you even further. Wishing you joy, confidence, and success in every step ahead.

Honoring Freedom, Celebrating Community

County Executive McMahon and City of Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens officially proclaimed June 18, 2026 as Syracuse Juneteenth Celebration Day in Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse.

Syracuse's Juneteenth Celebration has become the city's premier cultural event, bringing together residents, families, and organizations to honor Black history, culture, and excellence through music, art, food, and community engagement.

On June 19th, we celebrate "Emancipation Day," also known as Juneteenth, to honor June 19th, 1865 when freedom finally came for over 250,000 enslaved African American people in Galveston, Texas.

To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, please click below:

Celebrated in June, Pride Month honors the anniversary of the June 28th,1969, Stonewall Uprising in New York City which played a pivotal part in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Pride Month celebrates acceptance and equality while educating and raising awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

To learn more about the history of Pride Month, please click below:

June 2026 Observances

Alzheimer and Brain Awareness Month

Caribbean-American Heritage Month

D- Day

Flag Day

Women Veterans Day

County Executive McMahon Celebrates

World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day, observed annually on June 20, was established to honor and recognize the strength and resilience of refugees worldwide. Each year, the day is marked by various events globally, including cultural activities, public awareness campaigns and community gatherings. The day serves as a platform for refugees to share their stories and contributions.

County Executive McMahon marched in a parade of flags from the Onondaga County Courthouse to Syracuse City Hall, with each flag representing the country of origin of the diverse residents who enrich our community every day. He then presented a proclamation, which read in part, “Refugees contribute culturally, economically and socially to Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse, enriching our city with diverse skills, religions, languages, cuisine and traditions.”

To learn more about World Refugee Day, please click below:

Honoring An Onondaga County Hero

County Executive McMahon was honored to attend a special ceremony renaming a lodge at Van Buren Park after Corporal Kyle Schneider, a local Marine killed in Afghanistan in 2011. He was born in Syracuse and raised in the Baldwinsville area, where he played baseball, football and ran track at Baker High School. Corporal Schneider's family says Kyle enjoyed spending time at the park, and they've hosted an annual fundraiser at it to celebrate his life.

County Executive McMahon Announces

Reopening of Child Care Assistance Program

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Milestone Reached!

County Executive McMahon joined Maverick Basiliere and his family as we celebrated the 2 millionth book delivery as part of the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program!

County Executive McMahon said, "Onondaga County's long-standing investment in early childhood literacy represents one of the most important commitments we can make to our community's future. Our historic support for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has always been about more than literacy; it's about standing with parents and caregivers during the most critical years of a child's development. For more than a decade, this county has prioritized giving every child the tools they need to thrive--from their earliest days through kindergarten and beyond. Today's celebration is nothing short of extraordinary. Reaching the 2 millionth book milestone is not just a testament to the Imagination Library program itself, but to the families, educators, libraries, and community partners who believe in the power of books to shape brighter futures for all our children. Together, we've built something remarkable, and together, we will continue to change the story for families across Onondaga County, one book at a time."

County Executive McMahon Visits

Northside Learning Center

Syracuse's Northside has always been a place of resilience, hope, and new beginnings. That's why it's so powerful to see our community highlighted in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York "Making Missing Markets" initiative -- a national effort to invest upstream in housing, health, and opportunity -- at the North Side Learning Center.

Onondaga County has been a key partner in this work for years. Through long-standing support for immigrant and refugee families, strengthening workforce opportunities, expanding services, and helping community organizations do what they do best -- empower people -- the County has consistently shown up for the Northside and the City of Syracuse.

From initiatives like the Northside Workforce Development Grant to decades of collaboration with local leaders, this partnership has helped lay the foundation for what's coming next.

County Executive McMahon Speaks to Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS

County Executive McMahon joined the Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS to discuss housing in Onondaga County. He shared updates on the county's housing strategy, saying many projects are already moving through the planning process and that the county is working closely with builders and developers to keep momentum strong.

Local Entrepreneurs Are Vital To Future Success

County Executive McMahon joined a powerful conversation on how Onondaga County and Central New York can harness the full potential of local entrepreneurs during a time of historic transformation and inclusive economic growth. The conversation underscored the message that our growth is strongest when entrepreneurs have a seat at the table. Thanks to the New York Starters Coalition Powered By Right to Start for hosting. 

World Cup Fun!

AWESOME VIDEO ALERT!

FIFA World Cup fever has gripped the world, and even the elephants at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo are getting in on the fun! The zoo shared this awesome video on social media, writing "Asian elephant Romani stunned the crowd with her perfectly aimed kicks. Elephant calf Yaad took center stage with the return of his “fancy footwork,” while his twin brother Tukada’s innovative approach of stepping on the ball to send it flying brought the passionate pachyderm team to victory!"

County Executive McMahon Honors St. Paul's Syracuse Downtown Episcopal Church 200th Anniversary

County Executive McMahon was honored to present a joint proclamation in celebration of the church's 200th anniversary. Charted by New York State in 1826, St. Paul's has been active and involved in serving our community ever since. Construction was completed in 1886 on their current home -- their recognizable church building with red doors at the corner of East Fayette and Montgomery streets.

County Executive McMahon Speaks at Offical Opening of TTM Technologies, Inc. New Facility

County Executive McMahon spoke at the official opening of TTM Technologies, Inc.'s new $130 million, 215,000-square-foot Ultra-HDI PCB manufacturing facility in East Syracuse. The facility will support the next-generation radar, missile defense, space, and autonomous systems programs that protect the USA.

County Executive McMahon said, "TTM's expansion marks another major milestone in Onondaga County's ongoing economic resurgence. This project reflects our long-term strategy to attract next-generation manufacturers and strengthen our position in the defense and microelectronics sectors. The hundreds of high-quality jobs created here underscore the talent and momentum driving Central New York forward. We are proud to have partnered with TTM and our state and federal collaborators to bring this advanced manufacturing investment to life, and we look forward to the continued innovation and growth it will generate for our region."

County Executive McMahon Appoints 3 to Syracuse/Onondaga County Youth Board

County Executive McMahon recently appointed three new members to the Syracuse/Onondaga County Youth Board and they attended their first meeting this month.

Two members of the board are required to be youth under the age of 18, and County Executive McMahon appointed Isabella Secor and Rhett Andrews. They are both students at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

County Executive McMahon also appointed Michael Hall who works with the county's Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Onondaga County is undertaking a comprehensive planning effort to develop a county-wide Greenways and Blueways Development Plan. This project will create a strategic framework for an interconnected network of conservation greenways, mobility corridors, recreation greenways, agricultural corridors, and blueways as well as aims to connect people, communities, and ecological systems while enhancing environmental resilience, community connectivity, and quality of life.

This month, our County Planning Team hosted their first public meeting for Naturally Connected Onondaga: Countywide Greenways + Blueways Plan! The meeting welcomed community members to explore different topics, participate in various activities, and share their ideas directly with our team. 

Attendees provided valuable insight that will play a role in shaping the vision for a more connected Onondaga County. 

County Executive McMahon said, "By protecting and activating our trails, parks, and waterways, we’re not only caring for the environment—we’re investing in economic vitality, public health, and the long-term sustainability of our region.” 

Couldn’t make it? You can still participate! Our online crowdsourcing map is now live. Help us identify parks, trails, waterways, scenic destinations, and other outdoor recreation assets that should be included in our inventory. Stay tuned for additional opportunities to get involved!

To learn more, please click below:

All Things Agriculture!

June is National Dairy Month, and so it's the perfect time to celebrate our dairy farms! Did you know we have 48 of them in Onondaga County which have over 25,000 dairy cows? They help make Onondaga County the 9th largest agriculture county in New York State and in the top 20% of all agriculture counties in the USA!

County Executive McMahon and Onondaga County Legislator and Ag Council Chairman David Knapp visited the CNY Regional Market to officially kickoff the 2026 Onondaga Grown campaign and announce 12 farms are taking part in this year's 10th Annual ON Farm Fest, which will be held Saturday, September 19.

County Executive McMahon and Onondaga County Legislator and Ag Council Chairman David Knapp also recently announced the county's Agricultural Grant Program. Each applicant can apply for up to a maximum of $15,000 for agritourism or agricultural production projects. Watch the full announcement in the video below.

Supporting Small Businesses in Onondaga County

"Small business owners, this one's for you! The Onondaga County Opportunity Fund (OCOF) helps provide financial assistance to businesses located outside the City of Syracuse in Onondaga County to support business expansion, job retention, and job creation. OCOF offers three different loan options with a range of low interest rates — Micro-Enterprise Fund, Small Business Assistance Fund and the Community Impact Fund. Businesses must be in operation for at least a year to be eligible. Learn more or apply today by visiting: https://ongoved.com/not-for-profit/ocof/"

For a list of current job openings with Onondaga County, click below:

Congratulations to all those who participated in this year's Syracuse Workforce Run, held at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool. Team Onondaga County had the most registered participants - 405 - and Parks Commissioner Brian Kelley proudly accepted the award for the largest team. In all, over 4,100 total runners & walkers signed up from throughout the Syracuse area!

The SHERP visits LeMoyne Elementary School

The Onondaga County Department of Emergency Management took part this month in the first annual Touch‑a‑Truck Career Fair at the Montessori at LeMoyne Elementary School.

The SHERP was on display for students to explore, giving them a chance to learn how this unique vehicle supports rescue and recovery operations in challenging environments during emergencies. It's a fully amphibious vehicle—meaning it can travel on water, through swamps, and across marshes - and is also capable of breaking through ice. The bottom half of the SHERP is built like a boat, while the top half is constructed from fiberglass. With its ability to traverse a wide variety of terrains, the SHERP is a highly effective option for almost any type of rescue mission!

Homework Help

OCPL Provided Databases

Brainfuse HelpNow

Online test preparation, homework help, study aids, skill building, and live tutoring resource for children and adults.  

Gale OneFile: Educator's Reference Complete

Google is usually everyone’s go-to for research, but not all the results are accurate. Our library provides Gale OneFile collections to connect you to trusted, up-to-date content from leading magazines, newspapers and scholarly journals. These collections are easy to access, and with integrated tools, you can save, download and share.

K-8 Databases

A list of several databases that students in grades K-8 can use to assist with learning, school projects and more.

Online Learning Databases

Access to online learning opportunities including Brainfuse, LinkedIn Learning and more.

To learn more about Homework Help and other OCPL events, click below:

After-Hours Passport Application Appointments

FreshConnect Checks Programs For Veterans