Fall 2006

Computer technologies that deliver a growing wealth of information—at speeds and volumes unheard of before—are opening vast new worlds of knowledge for employees and consumers.

Advancing in step with those electronic wonders are risks that confidential information, personal or corporate, could be revealed, modified, used by others or destroyed.

“We have numerous computer safeguards to ensure uninterrupted generation and delivery of our electricity from NYPA’s major generating projects in Northern, Western and Central New York to our customers statewide,” said Bruce Metruck, manager of Energy Management Systems at the Clark Energy Center. “While we can’t reveal these specific precautions, many of our general strategies can help the smaller business person or home computer user ensure that their proprietary information remains just that.”

It all starts, said Metruck, with the password and the User ID. “They open the doors on your system. But make sure they open only for you. Change passwords often, and use different passwords for different purposes. Share them with no one.” The trick, he said, is to mix numbers and letters that are hard to guess but easy to remember. “And if you suspect it’s been compromised, change it at once.” Computers should be locked when not used. If you’re having your home computer repaired away from home, remove personal or sensitive information first. One danger, he said, comes from electronic viruses that can invade a PC, erase entire systems, alter files, or even steal credit card data and enable someone to go on shopping sprees at your expense.

“We’re on the alert for several sources of trouble,” said Metruck, noting that computer infections can hide behind web pages or enter your system through downloading games or e-mail attachments.

Viruses, programs that spread by replicating themselves when you interact with them, may arrive as e-mail attachments, or by simply opening a message or visiting a specific web site. “They could destroy information, including any or all data on your hard drive.”

Variations of viruses include: Worms, which also replicate, but don’t need stimulus from the user—they sneak through “holes” in vulnerable software; Trojans, bad codes in legitimate programs that initiate unauthorized activity when activated—such as stealing passwords or credit card data; or Spyware, which may be downloaded from a web page by following an e-mail link, or might be installed without your knowledge. It’s used to track Internet activity, monitor sites you visit, or possibly to record your passwords and personal information. To prevent your system from becoming infected, Metruck suggests:

1. Check to see that anti-virus software is updated weekly, at least.

2. Check software with a current virus scanner before using.

3. Store removable media on CDs or diskettes as “write protected.”

4. Don’t load free software from an unknown source.

5. Use a reputable anti-spyware application.

6. Install personal firewall software to prevent intrusive connections to your system.

“Frequent PC users get to know their machines pretty well,” said Metruck. “If you’re experiencing slowdowns, seeing unexpected programs, new messages, running out of disk space well before you thought you should, crashing programs or rejected passwords, those are all clear warning signals. It’s time to contact your Internet service provider, or an anti-virus specialist.

“At NYPA, we try to stay ahead of these and newer forms of electronic infections,” said Metruck. The Power Authority works with the New York State Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination, “and they have excellent guidelines and early-warning systems in place. If you’re concerned, pay them a visit: cscic.state.ny.us.”

(Photo caption: Security Pros: Clark's Bruce Metruck, left, and Victor Costanza.)

Valley Ballet Sparkles for Utica Monday Nite

Utica styles itself as the hub city of New York’s Cultural Corridor, from Earlville to Osceola, from Cooperstown to Old Forge. In that spirit, this year marked a full decade for Utica Monday Nite, a summer-long celebration of the arts, history and heritage, staged throughout the Mohawk Valley. On one of those nights, August 14, the Power Authority was pleased to sponsor a performance of the Mohawk Valley Ballet at Utica’s Hanna Park.

A regional institution, for 33 years the ballet company has regularly performed “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake” and other programs throughout the region. Each year, open auditions drill dance disciplines into the flashing feet of two dozen or more non-paid girls, age 10 to 18. And educational programs expose about 8,000 schoolchildren in a six-county region to the experience of live ballet and the chance to interact with the cast and crew. It’s common for ballet artists to visit individual classes to demonstrate their craft.

The troupe is active well beyond the 13-week Utica Monday Nite summer schedule each year. As the holiday season approaches, so do practice sessions for The Nutcracker, set this year for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3 at Utica’s Stanley Theater. Special shows are scheduled for regional schools. Also scheduled is Midsummer Night’s Dream, set for the Turning Stone Casino, Verona, next April 28.

(Photo caption:  Ballet bounces in at Utica's Hanna Park.)

Pincushion

Photo caption: This perky porcupine was more absorbed with his light-salad lunch than with the distraction of more than 1,200 youngsters of all ages who came to NYPA's fifth annual Wildlife Festival at Deerfield Wilderness Park in late September. Animals, hayrides, sled dogs and great food filled the day.

Gm’s Double-Duty

When Tom Shust finishes his busy workday at the Power Authority’s Clark Energy Center, he doesn’t go home—he switches hats.

Shust recently was named general manager at Clark, which coordinates the generation and delivery of NYPA’s electricity across the state. By day he oversees the energy center’s electrical, mechanical, test and planning departments, along with security, safety and environmental functions, supervising a staff of 60.

But by night, Shust is a master sergeant in the New York Air National Guard. He drives from Marcy to Griffiss Park in Rome to work a swing shift at the Northeast Air Defense Sector.

For Shust, neither role comes with surprises—only heightened responsibility, and opportunities to demonstrate his multi-tasking abilities.

After serving in the Air Force as a missile maintenance technician, Shust had tours as an Air National Guard reservist beginning in 1975. But all that changed after 9/11, when he was called to full-time active duty.

Since 9/11, the Air Defense Sector’s mission has changed dramatically. It previously monitored primarily US border areas. But now its responsibilities have ballooned to tracking aircraft throughout the country, focusing on airspace stretching from the East Coast to Tennessee, and up through the Dakotas to the Canadian border. Information has increased substantially since that horrendous day.

“Instead of monitoring hundreds of planes a day, the sector now monitors thousands,” said Shust, who helps keep the sector’s radar and communication systems in operational condition. Interestingly, that often involves talking to the very entities in the communications industry that he speaks to as part of his job at Clark.

Shust said his Air Guard duty has prepared him well over the years for his work with NYPA, and vice versa.

“It’s all training and experience,” said Shust, “Experience gained at NYPA helps with my duties with the Guard, and training with the Guard helps with my responsibilities at NYPA. At one place I’m a manager. At the other I’m a worker. But my tasks are similar in that I’m responsible for supporting the infrastructure of both. If something goes down, I have to deal with it, along with a more-than-capable crew in both places.”

Shust holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical technology from the State University of New York (SUNY) Institute of Technology, and two master’s degrees—management science from SUNY Binghamton and business administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.

What does Shust, a native of Whitesboro, do when he’s not multi-tasking?

When he does get some well-deserved down-time, he enjoys sailing and skiing with his wife, Mary Beth, and their daughter, Kathleen, in the area around their home in Cazenovia.

Calendar of Area Events

The Power Authority will be a corporate sponsor for several events in the Mohawk Valley this summer:

October 20, 21, 28
Halloween Train, Adirondack Scenic Railroad, Utica

November 22
NYPA Co-sponsorsed Community Food Bank Telethon, New Hartford

December 2
Children’s Museum Anniversary Gala, Utica

Mohawk Valley News

Mohawk Valley News is produced by the New York Power Authority to update our neighbors on activities at our Clark Energy Center in Marcy.

If you have comments or suggestions, please contact Carol Rodino, community relations manager, at 315-792-8511, or by email at carol.rodino@nypa.gov.

To our readers: We occasionally receive requests for tours of the Clark Energy Center. While we would like to comply, security concerns prevent us from allowing members of the public to tour our facilities. Thank you for your understanding.