Skip to main content

2026 March April CONNECT Magazine

Page 1


MARCH APRIL 2026

Call the Midwife, Season 15

Premieres Sunday, March 22 at 8 p.m.

Henry David Thoreau

Premieres Monday, March 30 at 10 p.m.

The Forsytes on MASTERPIECE

Premieres Sunday, March 22 at 9 p.m.

The Count of Monte Cristo on MASTERPIECE

Premieres Sunday, March 22 at 10 p.m.

Spatchcock Funk, Season 3

Premieres Tuesday, April 7 at 9 p.m.

Lucy Worsley Investigates:

The American Revolution

Premieres Tuesday, April 7 at 9:30 p.m.

Our goal is to be a champion for women’s health and a dedicated healthcare partner, to educate, empower, nurture and guide women through their healthcare needs at every stage of life. Healthier well-informed women mean healthier families and a healthier community.

Our approach is all about collaboration, compassion and a deep commitment to well-being — whether it’s taking preventative measures in your overall health, navigating everyday concerns with your primary care physician or tackling complex medical needs like cardiac issues or stroke. And we’re not just focused on individual care; we’re working to improve health outcomes for women across our community and beyond.

crouse.org/women

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 2

Publisher

Editor

Photographers

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chair

Vice-Chair Francisco Suárez

Michael D'Eredita

Ana Sylvia Espinosa

de los Monteros

Diane Gayeski

Thomas Griffith

Mark Jackson, Sr.

Peter G. King

Don McPherson

Daniel Mera

Maria Murray

Michael O'Connor

Tere Paniagua

Secretary Hanka Grabovica

Deryn Pomeroy Vijay Srinivas Colleen Viggiano

Directors Emeriti

President's Letter

Greetings. I would like to share a conversation I had with a WCNY member recently. I called him to say thank you for helping with our membership drive last year.

It was a “315” number but when he picked up, he said he was in Florida. He lived in the Mohawk Valley for more than 40 years and moved south after an accident put him in a wheelchair. He explained that he is in a first-rate rehabilitation center and near family, and that he looks forward to streaming WCNY’s Classic FM when he wakes up. So, having been raised to support the things you like, he said he saved up to provide a matching grant to encourage others to join, as well.

I was touched by the kindness, and overwhelmed when I realized this effort was one of several that contributed to the growth of more than 4,000 new members last year, bringing total WCNY membership to over 20,000 households.

We are grateful for all of you. Your continued generosity allows us to share music, arts, and education across the region, around the country and throughout the world. Thank you.

Plus, streaming on the PBS App, WCNY App, and PBS Passport.

March/April WCNY Daytime Schedule

March/April PBS KIDS Weekly Schedule

Schedule

5 Tips for New York ‘Solopreneurs’ to Grow Their Businesses in 2026

You’ve put in the late nights, the weekends and the hustle. And now, what started as an opportunity to make extra money has turned into an enterprise with real potential.

If you handle everything on your own—logistics, production, marketing, finances and everything in between—you’re part of a growing group of entrepreneurs nicknamed “solopreneurs.” While the image of a small business often includes an owner and a few employees, for many entrepreneurs, “solopreneurship” makes the most sense for their business model and goals.

If you’re considering the solopreneur life or have already launched your business, here are five helpful tips for you to grow your business in 2026.

1) Identify or solidify a business opportunity.

If you want to become a solopreneur or enhance your current offerings, look for a need in New York or come up with an innovative idea. Maybe it’s a service that can help others or a product that could enhance or simplify their lives.

Once you have your big idea, careful planning and preparation can give your startup its best shot at becoming a success. That can include researching your industry’s trends to see if you’re meeting a niche or a growing need. Look for long-term demand and understand your total addressable market, not just seasonal or trendy success.

2) Make a business plan.

Start by writing or refining a business description to outline your goals and strategy. Your plan doesn’t have to be long, but it should outline your mission, goals, competitive analysis, marketing approach and financial forecasts.

If you’re already running a business, examine your customer base. Do you have repeat customers? Are they referring others to you? Side hustles that work have a steady and growing customer base. If yours does, it’s a positive sign your business may be ready for the next step.

3) Maximize savings to impact growth.

Many entrepreneurs use some personal savings to get their businesses started but also pursue business lines of credit or small business loans to fund equipment and marketing plans. No matter how you get started, prioritizing saving along the way will help secure the funds you need to get

your business up and running. One powerful tool for solo entrepreneurs is the new Solo 401(k) from JPMorganChase. This plan is designed for business owners without full-time employees, apart from their spouse, and allows for high annual contributions—up to $72,000 for themselves and their spouse—with both pre-tax and Roth options.

The key is consistency. According to data from Chase, while Solo 401(k) accounts are a popular choice for self-employed business owners, 70% didn’t contribute in the past year. Building small, sustainable habits—such as setting up automatic monthly contributions or scheduling quarterly check-ins with a financial advisor—can strengthen follow-through. Over time, these simple actions add up, helping ensure Solo 401(k) accounts reach their full potential and deliver meaningful longterm results.

You could also look for additional financing from angel investors—wealthy individuals that can provide small investments, usually in the very early stages of a business. Angel investors accept more risk but want an ownership stake. Crowdfunding can also be beneficial for solopreneurs. With the right product and approach, you can raise small dollar amounts from a large pool of individual online backers with the bonus of connecting with your target customers early on.

4) Develop your marketing and brand strategy.

Define your brand voice and value proposition and choose the right marketing channels for growth. You might explore channels such as social media, email marketing or paid advertising. As you set a realistic marketing budget, consider the cost of tools, advertising and outsourced services like

graphic design or content writing. Start small, measure results and scale what works.

You should also build a strong network to find mentors who can provide startup advice. Stay focused on your target audience so you can market to them effectively.

5) Plan for growth and operations.

The logistical side of entrepreneurship includes thinking about order fulfillment, customer service, project management and scheduling. Invest in the right tools to streamline daily operations, improve customer experience and save time.

A final note:

Self-employment comes with new tax responsibilities, including quarterly estimated taxes and self-employment tax. You may also need to collect and remit sales tax, depending on your industry—and you could have to pay sales tax in all the states where your goods or services are sold

You may already be operating as a sole proprietor, but going full time could mean exploring a more formal business structure. While creating an LLC for your side hustle is common, consider which structure best supports your long-term goals and legal needs. Depending on your industry, you may need licenses, permits, insurance, contracts or compliance paperwork before you can legally or safely scale operations.

If you want more assistance in taking your solo business to the next level, your local financial institution has resources that can help. You can also reach out to a Chase business banker today for more information and advice.

March Programming Schedule

Pointer Sisters:

Future

This Old House: Needham| Foot Traffic

Ask This Old House: Lead Testing, Hillside Steps Call the Midwife: Season 15, Episode 1 Amanpour and Company

This Old House: Needham| Foot Traffic

April Programming Schedule

See

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC News: The Context PBS News Hour

BBC News: The Context PBS News Hour

Nature: Raptors— A Fistful of Daggers: Extreme Lives

NOVA: Your Brain— Perception Deception

From That Small Island: The Story of the Irish— From the Beginning This Old House

Our New World: The Pulse of Change Amanpour and Company

Nature: Raptors—A Fistful of Daggers: Extreme Lives

Ask This Old House: NOLA Shutters, Hardwired Alarms Call the Midwife: Season 15, Episode 2 Amanpour and Company Anicent Skies: Gods and Monsters

Castle Farms, Hour 1 Call the Midwife: Season 15, Episode 3 The Forsytes on MASTERPIECE: Episode 3 The Count of Monte Cristo on MASTERPIECE: The Castle Recorded Live at Analog: Madison Ryann Ward Call the Midwife: Season 15, Episode 3

Finding Your Roots: Song of the South Spatchcock Funk: Season 3, Episode 1 Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution— The Break Up FRONTLINE

Classic FM Weekly Schedule

Community FM Weekly Schedule

Dear me, Care this good comes from the heart.

At St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Institute, your care is personal and advanced — with leading-edge testing, minimally invasive treatments and nationally recognized surgery. Their performance earned 6 high-performing ratings in heart care — more than all other area hospitals combined.*

When it comes to your heart, you deserve the best.

START CARING FOR YOUR HEART TODAY.

Michael Lawrence, Enrolled Agent

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook