The State of Things: The Union, The County, The City

It's February. The groundhog has provided us with The State of Winter, so it's time to move on to The State of Just About Everything Else.

President Barack Obama will deliver his State of the Union Address Tuesday night to outline what he views as the top priorities as he starts his fifth year in office.

Later this week, the State of the County Address will be presented by Broome County Executive Debra Preston. It's scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Thursday in the Legislative Chamber at the County Office Building on Hawley Street in Binghamton.

Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan plans to deliver his State of the City Address later this month. The message is to be presented at 5:30 p.m. on February 27 in the Council Chambers at Binghamton City Hall.

The county and city addresses are open to the public.

The State of the Union Address is not open to the public but one Broome County resident is expected to be in Washington to hear it in person.

A retired Army colonel has been invited by Congressman Richard Hanna to attend the event. According to Hanna's office, Benjamin Margolius of Vestal won't be able to sit with the congressman on the House floor. Guests will be seated in the galleries overlooking the floor.