For the 12-month period ending in April 2013, private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region increased by 10,200 or 1.4 percent. Employment gains were strongest in trade, transportation and utilities (+4,400), followed by educational and health services (+2,900), leisure and hospitality (+2,800), professional and business services (+2,700), and other services (+900).

 

Meanwhile, job losses were centered in information (-1,300), natural resources, mining and construction and manufacturing – both down 800 jobs respectively, and financial activities (-600). The government sector shed 3,200 jobs over the year.

 

The regional economy continued to expand in April 2013. Private sector job growth was spread throughout the region. Percentage wise,  Kingston  posted the strongest job growth (+2.7 percent); followed by  Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown  (+2.3 percent); and the Putnam-Rockland-Westchester labor market area (+1.0 percent). Sullivan County (-0.5 percent) was the only area in the region that experienced a decline in private sector job count.

 

Overall, regional private sector job growth is broad-based, with more industries reporting job gains than losses. Trade, transportation and utilities, up 2.5 percent year-to-year in April, is the region’s leading job generator. It added 4,400 jobs - its strongest job growth in 2 years. The supersector benefited from strong hiring in retail trade, as the latter accounted for more than 90 percent of the overall gains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPCNR MILESTONES. From Mary Ann Solano. April 21, 2013:

 

My Dad is Matthew Anthony Solano. He was born a full term twin at 2 pounds in Mount Vernon, New York on February 18, 1916. He grew in Mount Vernon and received a college scholarship for art. His step father would not allow such frivolity and sent him to work instead.

 

Following his marriage to my beautiful Irish mother,Catherine Patricia McCauley,who he met at work, and two sons later (Matthew Anthony Junior and Edward John), my dad lost his right hand in a printing press machine. He was to tell me many years later that two weeks after his accident a young woman at the plant lost her hand as well.

My grandmother is quoted as saying, "you had four hands between you and now you have three!" My then family moved to Queens Village where they owned & operated the corner stationary store, "Matty's Candy Store" on the corner of Springfield Blvd. where my younger sister Kathryn Ellen and I were born. My mother worked evenings as a waitress as well as in the store. She washed all our clothes by hand and we enjoyed a home cooked meal every evening, except Mondays when my Dad took my sister and I to the local diner for a treat.

Although there were arguments about what words were acceptable in scrabble or which car was more practical, I never heard my mother or my father complain about life.

We moved to Patchogue, Long Island and upon my mother's passing my Dad moved to Franklin Avenue in White Plains. He could be seen at various city events, shopping, watching the buildings rise in White Plains and enjoying the people and life here in the city. The Senior Center may remember a police escort to accompany my Dad home from Atlantic City to meet the bus (he thought it was an overnight trip) or the Police Chief warning seniors not to allow strangers to accompany them to their residences, (my Dad at 86 years overpowered someone on his doorstep who dared this ruse).

Last year his health necessitated a move to Ridgefield Nursing Facility where he passed on Saturday morning at 97 years. He referred to his residence as a hotel and treated that professional staff accordingly. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I know that Kenny and, Dillon Jefferies, Peter and Alice Dobrie will carry his inspiration and his gifts.

As for me, I imagine he and my mother slipping away as they did on rare evenings from the store in Queens to an adventure away in Coney Island, their idea of heaven. God bless you, Dad.