The bill Senator George Amedore (R-Rotterdam) wrote to close the cider loophole (S.5341) passed the Senate June 1, and moves on the the Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assembly member Patricia Fahy. The bill would allow farm-based cideries to sell New York State wine, beer, and spirits by the glass for consumption on premise, the same recent rules passed for wineries and breweries. Now apple farmers can make some extra income and promotion. “We want to do everything possible to encourage the expansion of New York’s farm beverage industry,” Amedore said in a statement. “Allowing farm cideries to sell other New York State produced beers, wines, and spirits encourages cross promotion of all the great products New York State has to offer, and will help this important piece of our economy continue to grow and flourish.” Amedore got another bill through the Senate June 2, one that would designate a portion of State Route 23 in the towns of Ashland and Windham in Greene County as the “Wayne C. Speenburgh Memorial Highway.” Speenburgh was a longtime Greene County Republican politician, who served as leader of the legislature before his recent death.