Boot Camp 2009

Redneck Games Preview

2009-08-07T12:56:00.004-04:00

A "redneck" in this image from the event's Web site.

Alex Blute

NCC News

More than fifty Syracuse residents are preparing to test their seed-spitting and beer-belly baring skills for this weekend's first annual Syracuse Redneck Games.

On Saturday, the parking lot of the local Quaker Steak and Lube will be transformed for the first annual Syracuse Redneck Games.

Just a joke.

One participant who's not taking the competition too seriously is Syracuse University Law student Derek English.

He knows he can take home prizes for winning events like the "Beer Belly Wet T-Shirt Contest" or the "Hub-Cap Hurl".

But English hasn't been practicing his redneck skills.

He entered the competition as a joke after he and a friend saw a billboard advertising the event.

They decided it would serve as a great venue to drink on Saturday.

What is a Redneck, anyway?

In fact, when it comes to what he calls 'real rednecks', English doesn't think he qualifies.

English hopes to see other competitors representing the more common redneck stereotypes at the games this weekend.

English still hopes to try his hand at the "Toilet-Seat Toss" on Saturday and thinks he'll stand a chance in the chicken-wing-eating competition.

He's won one in the past.

Who want's to play?

Marketing and Activities coordinator for the event Katie Rapp said ove 50 participants have signed up so far including men women and children from all walks of life.

Rapp said she expects as many as 100 participants in this weekend's events.

Redneck Final.mp3

Syracuse Community Comes Together for Peace

2009-08-07T00:57:00.007-04:00

Christine Pitawanich
NCC News

Marking the 64^th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

A collaboration occurred this week between the Syracuse Peace Council, Peace Action and Pax Christi to put on a two-day long commemoration of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An inter-religious remembrance service at the Everson Museum Plaza, took place on Wednesday and attracted about 75 people.

Advocating Religious Tolerance

Beth Dubois, a Southside pastor, was happy that her kids could mingle with others of different faiths. “My kids get to meet folks from different faith traditions and you can see, it doesn’t matter who the kids are, or where they’re from, kids are going to cross the lines faster than all the adults,” said Dubois. “If we give our kids any gift, that’s the gift we need to give them, to respect and honor other people’s traditions and learn about them,” she added.

High Hopes For A Peaceful Generation

15 year old Kenari Clark has high hopes, “to spread the peace and start peace in our generation,” he said. While making numerous origami paper cranes and a paper lantern for the event, Clark said he learned quite a bit, “I got to learn about atomic bombs and I never knew about the bombing in Japan, that it was a nuclear bomb.”

As the songs and prayers in the service came to an end candle-lit paper lanterns were released into the plaza’s fountain to float in remembrance of those who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “History repeats itself,” said Carol Halter, a resident of the Westcott neighborhood. “There are a lot of lessons to learn from it and we can teach our children, because they are the future.”

*The radio story below was created the morning of Thursday, August 6th.

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Remembering Hiroshima... Part 2

2009-08-06T23:30:00.011-04:00

Lihuan Wang

NCC News

Today marks the 64th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Syracuse peace activsts took to the streets to commemorate the lives lost and to call for a nuclear-free world. The march went around downtown Syracuse and lasted for about fourty minutes. Organizers and volunteers handed out fliers and paper cranes, a symbol of peace and harmony.

Reinforcing the Message

This was the second part of an annual event. Organizer and Co-chair of Peace Action of Central New York Gerald Lotierzo is confident their message is more received each year.""If Henry Kissinger could come out for the abolition of nuclear weapons, god we must be getting our message through." he said.

Standing Up for Peace

For many participants, it's all about standing up for what they really believe in. "People kinda stare at us in the streets like we're freaks," said SU student Staci Schweitzer, "but we know what's right and we know we're doing the right thing."

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Remembering Hiroshima... Part 1

2009-08-06T23:26:00.011-04:00

Lihuan Wang

NCC News

Peace was their common belief. People with different faiths united at the Everson Museum Wednesday to take part in a service commemorating the bombings of two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As faith leaders lead, people young and old alike said prayers, sang songs and launched lanterns.

A Thousand Paper Cranes

Children listened closely as the story of a thousand paper cranes was told. It was about a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki who got leukemia from the radiation and wanted to fold a thousand paper cranes to get her wich granted. She died before she could make it, but paper cranes became a symbol for peace.

Unity and Hope

"There's a sense of unity and of hope, even though our world is at war in many ways," said Marilyn Goulet of Syracuse, "It's wonderful to know that there's people in little pockets all over with the same hopes and same dreams."

The interfaith service was the first part of a two-day commemoration, followed by a march through downtown on Thursday.

Sometimes Tough Choices for Pet Owners

2009-08-06T22:35:00.004-04:00

Dog Owners at Wegmans Good Dog Park have mixed feelings about treating their pets for serious illnesses

Ashley Moss, N-C-C News

What would you do if your cat or dog came down with cancer? Many owners are faced with a difficult choice...treating them with rigorous and expensive treatments and medicines or putting them to sleep.

Studies show that dogs get cancer at a similar rate as humans. Like people there are a variety of treatments but there are no current medicines specifically for animals.

Memory of a Beloved Pet

Judy Taylor of Syracuse doesn't think there needs to be a separate drug for animals.Elwood was a cat that survives cancer for over eight years. Her owner Judy Taylors started the Elwood Fund in her honor. She founded the Elwood Fund in honor of her pet to ensure better treatment for animals with terminal diseases.

The Elwood Fund

The fund is sponsored by the Syracuse Cancer Research Institute and is a memorium to animals with serious and terminal diseases. The purpose is to provide funding and support for pets and to ensure that they are properly cared for and treated. The fund also supports research that will benefit the longevity of the animas. She says the drug Hydrazine Sulfate (Hi-Dru-Zeen Sul-Fate) is an effective drug for people and animals. She says it stops the body from wasting and the cancer from flourishing.

Tough Choices
Sandy Breed in Liverpool has lost one dog to cancer and hopes her current dog, a pomeranian, poodle mix doesn't get the disease. But if she did, She would not take her through treatment due to the emotional toll and the large costs. If her dog got cancer, she would prefer to put her to sleep.

Preferences for Natural Treatment

Sandy Breed thinks cancer is preventable and keeps dog healthy by feeding her mostly organic food. Pfizer Animal Health will release drug just for dogs in 2010. The Pfizer Animal Health is planning on releasing a drug specifically for dogs sometimes next year.

Syracuse Cancer Research Institute, Elwood Fund, 600 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.

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Poise on Horseback

2009-08-06T20:43:00.005-04:00

Dontré L. Conerly

NCC News

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CNY SPCA Sees More Cats

2009-08-06T17:08:00.009-04:00

Sara Sultanik

NCC News

The Central New York SPCA animal shelter is busy this summer. And Paul Morgan, Executive Director the Central New York organization thinks the economy may be to blame.

Not A lot of Space

Executive Director Paul Morgan says the SPCA is seeing a lot of cats this summer. He says there are 105 spaces available for cats. But this summer there are over 180 cats. He blames this on the economy. Morgan says, "People just can't afford [their pets] anymore." But he along with the rest of the SPCA staff are always trying hard to "get the animals in better situations and get them out to better homes."

She Had to Give Them Up

Local woman, Ms. MacLean, as she refers to herself, is recently homeless. She says this is "...because of the economy, people losing their homes with foreclosures..." And her cats had to pay the price of a tough economy. MacLean was living in her car with her two cats because local shelters did not allow pets. Maclean says the cats were fine but the days were getting hotter so she didn't want them to "...suffocate and die..." So she brought them to the CNY SPCA today for them to live safely for ten days while MacLean looks for permanent lodging. After the ten days, if MacLean does not have a home for the cats, they will go up for adoption.

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New Media Impacts News Readers

2009-08-06T16:58:00.008-04:00

Starbucks Coffee Shop, Marshall St. & University Ave.

Christian Dotson-Pierson

NCC News

New Media

Ever thought social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook would be used by network news outlets or even newspapers? Well, times are changing and so is the way news is presented to the public. In an effort to keep pace with the technological advances, traditional news reporting is becoming more mainstream, thanks to the world wide web.

News is online?

For some, being able to access news online may come as a surprise. But for many young adults, this is the norm. According to a Pew survey from December 2008, 59-percent of young adults surveyed used the internet as their first source of news. This number equaled the percentage of young adults who relied on television for news reporting. This survey serves as an indicator as to the impact online news is having on the way people gather information about the world around them.

Online news is not for everyone

The online media frenzy is not everyone's first source for getting the news. Stephen Orlando, an avid news consumer, still prefers the old method; the good old print kind. Orlando says "I like the activity, the actual act of reading it." While he agrees the online medium may be faster and convenient, he'd rather grab a paper from a newsstand, if one is nearby.

New media impact

Because of the convenience and free, easy access to online sources, people will always be able to get news on the go. Yet, as newspapers, magazines, and network television stations continue to explore different options of reaching out to its consumers, consumers should remember everything is a work in progress. Websites make not always function properly or may run slower than expected due to a high volume of people accessing the site. So, while online media may be faster and accessible from anywhere, sometimes, print is best; it has very little chance of experiencing a "technical difficulty."

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Local Peace Group Active More Than 70 Years With No Signs of Stopping

2009-08-06T16:46:00.005-04:00

Christine Pitawanich

NCC News

The Syracuse Peace Council is a local grassroots organization located in Syracuse. It’s been here since its founding in 1936. In fact, they claim that they are the oldest continuous grassroots peace group in the nation.

Against All Odds
Staff member Carol Baum, acknowledged that it wasn’t the easiest thing for peace organizations to stay afloat. “Sometimes peace groups survive and sometimes they don’t. And why this one was lucky enough to survive all this time, I don’t know,” said Baum. However, she admitted that the area is no stranger to activism, “Central New York is a hot bed for activism for many many years,” said Baum.

They’ve Still Got It
Though the Council has been around for more than 70 years, they haven’t become lethargic. Just today they helped organize a downtown procession in remembrance of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; it was the second event of a two-day-long commemoration. Last night, the Council was busy managing an inter-faith service held at the Everson Museum Plaza which attracted around 75 people.

A Call to Make a Difference
In organizing community activities, Baum hopes to influence people to take a stand. “Part of what we’re about is to say that individuals can do things, but just imagine if you magnify your individual efforts by many other people working together. Then you can really start doing something,” she said. “Social change is about people getting together and making decisions and changing things. And it can be done, I truly believe it.”

After 9/11, the Peace Council shifted their focus towards getting American troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. They are also major supporters of the Onondaga Nation People. In addition, they partner with various non-profit organizations in the Syracuse area. For more information visit http://www.peacecouncil.net/.

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Post Offices Packing it In

2009-08-06T16:35:00.005-04:00

Joshua Sims

NCC News

Lost Mail

Some Central New York residents may have to travel a little further to mail packages. The U.S. postal service is conducting a study to determine whether to close down post offices all across the country.

Elmwood and North Syracuse post offices are on the list of possible locations that may be closed this fall.

Mailing Advances
Changes in the way people are sending mail is resulting in a drop in mail volume according to Public Affairs Specialists for Central New York postal services Maureen Marion.
“Part of it is due to what we call electronic diversion, people going to email for financial transactions, college grades, paper work types of things,” said Marion

The rise in electronic mail is causing post offices across to country to rethink the uses of services in order to determine how they can place new elements out there according to Marion.
“Part of study right now is what elements may need to be added to make it stronger,” said Marion.

Recession Hits
Marion said the recession has hit the postal service as well. Mail volume has dropped 20-percent in the last 18 months in Syracuse.

If the study determines that some post offices may need to be shut down Marion stresses they will be consolidating post offices in Syracuse rather than closing
them.

postal complete.mp...

'Going Green' at Syracuse

2009-08-06T16:33:00.005-04:00

Kara Labs

NCC News

Recently, there has been heightened environmental awareness among the academic and business communities. Businesses can really profit from "going green" practices in the long run and colleges are jumping on that boat.
What is sustainability?
Melissa Cadwell is the Marketing Director for Syracuse University's Sustainability Division. She comments that sustainability is a blanket term. One definition she offers is, "meeting the needs of today, without compromising the needs of tomorrow." Going green practices are becoming more and more popular.
Face lift?
Colleges and universities across the country are looking into offering degree programs that focus on educating students regarding better business practices and ways to alter their lifestyle in order to have a positive impact on the environment. Syracuse is trying to doing the same thing. They have put together a committee made up of professors in order to bring 'going green' education into the classroom.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Cadwell says that there is no rush to implement these degree programs even though other colleges are well on their way. "Each school is a little bit different. This division is only two years old. Some schools...have been doing this for 10, 12 and 13 years. It's a long process and a slow process and in our area we want to make sure that we do it right."
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Walking to Change the World

2009-08-06T16:14:00.007-04:00

Create a Free Slideshow

Rachel Silver

NCC News

-Syracuse-- A long-standing peace organization sent a message to Central New Yorkers through a solemn protest this afternoon. The Syracuse Peace Council commemorated the 64th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a dramatic procession through downtown Syracuse followed by a rally in front of city hall.

Protest with a Purpose

The protest began shortly after noon on East Washington Street near City Hall. Men, women and children of all ages, races and ethnicities uniformly dressed in light colors gathered with hand-made signs, banners and posters and joked and spoke casually; however, once the protest was signaled to begin, a hush fell over the protesters and they began their somber march through the streets.

Syracuse Peace Council organizers and police stopped the traffic as the long line marched by in complete silence, save the sound of a heavy drum which lead the procession. Signs demanding a nuclear fear world and calling for an end to all forms of terrorism and violent aggression.

Onlookers stopped and stared, as the protesters fulfilled their mission statement of "educating, agitating, organizing" by handing out information and paper cranes. Others passersby shouted or made derogatory gestures toward the group. Peace activist Richard Vallejo was neither surprised nor distracted by the detractors, saying, "Now we tend to sort of look at ourselves with the war on terror as freedom fighters trying to rid the world of these things but not giving up our own."

The protest ended nearly an hour later in front of City Hall where Syracuse Peace Council member Carol Baum along with two additional speakers thanked the crowd for marking the important historic day with a peaceful protest and urged them to continue their activism. The rally ended with a community affirmation where the protesters promised in unison to never be idle in the face of injustice, inequality violence and powerlessness.

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Small Businesses-Big Impact

2009-08-06T16:10:00.002-04:00

Jason Lucas

NCC News

There is a current trend of grocery stores moving their stores out of the downtown and southside areas of Syracuse to areas on the perimeter of the city. The Urban Delights Youth Farmstand Project is filling the void by providing fresh produce to the downtown and southside areas. "It gives them a chance to not to have to go to the outskirts to grocery shop. So they're excited," explained program coordinator Rashida Mays. Organized by Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, the Urban Delights Youth Farmstand Project is also giving back to the community by teaching teenagers ages 14-21 leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills. Mays added the program also improves the teens social and life skills.

Building The Business Sense

In addition to teaching the teens skills that translate over into the corporate world, the workers manage produce stands stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables acquired from a wholesaler. The program started this summer on July 6 and ends on August 14. In its tenth summer, Urban Delights Youth Farmstand Project has 18 teenage participants that work at the program’s seven produce stands. A few Urban Delight produce stand locations are located at the Syracuse Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays, the Syracuse Community Health Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Westcott Community Center on Fridays.

Hands On Program?

Mays emphasized that the program’s main goal is not to make a profit, but to give teens something constructive to do over the summer. The next step for the Urban Delights Youth Farmstand Project is growing its own produce. Mays said this will enhance the teens’ experience by giving them the opportunity to learn about the produce their selling at their produce stands.

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Maxwell Trial... Day 7

2009-08-06T15:59:00.004-04:00

Beth Long
NCC News

Lynn Maxwell has testified for 5-and-a-half hours, with more to come tonight. Lynn is charged with 4 counts of child endangerment in the death of her step-daughter, Erin Maxwell. Her husband Lindsay Maxwell, Erin's father, faces the same charges.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Moody began cross-examining Lynn Maxwell during the 7th night of the trial. Lynn Maxwell told Moody that she didn't see or smell the several months accumlation of cat feces in her bedroom.

The problems didn't stop in the bedroom though, Lynn admitted to having to change her clothes at work because of complaints of smelling of cat. This admission got a rise out of Defense Attorney Sal Lanza, who objected and began bantering with Judge Robert Wood when he didn't sustain his objection.

I caught up with Lynn during a recess, and she said that the testimony so far had been "rough" and "its hard to relive everything, you try and wall everything off when your home. Its hard to have to bring it back out again. We haven’t been able to greive for Erin yet, and I haven’t finished grieving for my mother yet, there is a lot of pain there"

Lindsay is expected to take the stand in the coming days as the trial, and says "I might make few things more clear than my wife did, I don’t know what kind of condition I will be in on the stand, to tell you the truth, whew ive never liked being infront of people."

About 62 residents from the Palermo area turned out for the trial tonight, and even after a 7 days of court, they dont plan to stop attending anytime soon. Cindy Harrison, says "Im kinda hooked now. I have been coming, and I just think about it a lot and I would just like to see justice be done.”

The trial continues tonight, and Lynn Maxwell will be back on the stand at 7pm.

Maxwell Trial Heats Up

2009-08-06T15:37:00.005-04:00

Max Cole
NCC News

Day eight of the Maxwell Trial is set to begin tonight at the Palermo Town Court. Lynn Maxwell, one of the co-defendants, has testified for five and a half hours and she is not done yet. Last night she testified that one of her co-workers at one time complained of her smelling of cat urine.

Effect on the Maxwells

Lynn Maxwell says that testifying has been "rough. It's hard to re-live everything." Lindsey Maxwell, Lyn's husband and co-defendant, says that "this has been like the worst year I could ever imagine." He is expected to take the stand tonight.

What's Next?

The Maxwells have each been charged with four counts of child endangerment of their daughter Erin. Lynn Maxwell's son, Alan Jones, is scheduled to go on trail September 8th. He has been charged with Erin's murder.

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Young Bucks

2009-08-06T13:37:00.004-04:00

Tarryn Lael Simmons
NCC News

14 year old champion rider, Lydia Leonard-Haywood with Henry.

Some children are taking their horse play very seriously in Syracuse. Children not even old enough to drive, are riding horses at todays Coliseum Classic Horse Show on the State Fair Grounds. It gives rising stars like six-year-old Quinn Burlingham a chance to strut their stuff. Quinn wears a signature blond mohawk and is working hard to catch up with his older sister, who also rides. He practices a couple times a week and says it take "a very long time".

14-year-old Lydia Leonard-Haywood is a champion jumper and rides a brown horse named "Henry". Lydia has big aspirations for the future. She aspires to be a professional jumper and own several horses. Lydia's favorite professional jumper is an Olympian from Casanovia, Beezie Madden.

31-year-old Kelly Harrison is a professional rider and trains some of the young competitors. She says that horseback riding can improve concentration in children with Attention Deficit Disorder.Today is the final day of the series and it will return to Syracuse in September.

Young Bucks Wrap.m...

Israeli Scouts Coming to Syracuse

2009-08-06T12:32:00.003-04:00

Elyssa Rosenbaum
NCC News

The Israeli Scouts Friendship Caravan is coming to Syracuse. The group of 5 boy and 5 girl souts has been traveling around the Northeast since the beginning of June. They sing, dance and engage Jewish Communities in dialogue about Israel. They will be in town performing both publicly and privately for a week. Syracuse is their longest stop of the summer.

Committee Chair for the local chapter of the Friends of Israel Scouts, Melinda Greenman, is excited for the groups arrival on August 9th.

She said although fundraising was tough this year than in year's past, she has money to carry over from past years fundraising. It may affect her ability to bring the group here for as long a period as in the past.

The public performance schedule in Syracuse is:
12 p.m Sunday August 10th at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville
and 7 p.m. on Monday night, August 11th at the Jewish community Center in DeWitt.

All performances are free and open to the public.

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Barefoot Healer

2009-08-06T03:13:00.004-04:00

Tarryn Lael Simmons
NCC News

Chris Scanlon is a physical therapist at HealthPathways on E. Genesee Street and he is missing something...his shoes. The unconventional health care provider has a very mellow personality and says that when he first meets patients he wears shoes, but after that initial meeting he likes to practice barefoot because he is able to connect more with his clients, walk softly and receive information from the Earth..

HealthPathways provides nontraditional solutions to everyday aliments. Patients come for help with quitting smoking, losing weight, relaxing, and getting rid of chronic pains. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, and lymphatic release are some types of practices HealthPathways utilizes to heal their patients.

Scanlon explains that their methods are not pathology-based, meaning they do not focus more on wellness promotion than illness prevention. When asked if why he believes unconventional health practices should be considered in the government health care debate - he says that it should be considered because it not only significantly increases wellness, but cuts down on costs in the long run.

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Alliance Bank Stadium...A Prime Music Venue

2009-08-05T23:47:00.003-04:00

Max Cole

NCC News

For the first time in ten years, the Dave Matthews Band returned to Syracuse last night. The concert was another step in the effort to hold more music events at Alliance Bank Stadium.

Fans from All Over

The concert attracted fans from all over, including Cara Luzzi from Buffalo who enjoys Dave Matthews' live music: "His concerts are amazing."

Boost for the Economy

Director of Sales Paul Fairbanks says that the concert helps the local economy in Syracuse: "All of the local vendors that we work with are pumping in extra product." Nearly 20,000 people showed up for the concert last night. Fairbanks says that the stadium plans on hosting more concerts in the near future.

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Get Moving CNY!!

2009-08-05T23:43:00.004-04:00

Beth Long
NCC News

Obesity is a growing problem in America. A new government study shows that Americans growing waistlines cost taxpayers 147 billion dollars per year, double what it was 10 years ago.

A Recent study by the Center for Disease Control found that it costs about $1,400 more per year in cost of living for obese Americans.

There are plenty of ways to combat obesity here in Central New York, and many of them like Get Moving Central New York, are free.

Get Moving Central New York is a 30 day program, which encourages 30 minutes of activity each day. The Onondaga County Parks program allows you to pick any 30 day period between now and September 1st to start your exercise plan.

Senior Recreation Leader Eric Sopchak says that the program is easy to do, go to Onondaga Lake Park and pick up a calender, do the exercise, than turn it in for prizes. Everyone who participates gets a Wegmans produce coupon and one-month membership to Gold's Gym.

Sopchak encourages creativity in your activity, " Walking the dog for 30 minutes, mowing the lawn for 30 minutes, doing a 30 minute bike ride, or 30 minute swim, or even just getting out and gardening for 30 minutes."

The goal of the program is to establish healthy habits that will lead to a healther you, and even help you lose weight along the way. Sopchak says that "the biggest hurdle that you need to get over is the first inital push, and then once your through that first inital step, it becomes a lot easier to continue on a wellness program."

Emotional Smokers

2009-08-05T23:36:00.009-04:00

Dontre L. Conerly

NCC News

Syracuse---A recent study, by the Women's Health Research at Yale University, reveals that women have a harder time with smoking cessation than does men. While an addiction to nicotene is a shared aspect of why smokers light up, the study shows that men and women smoke for entirely different reasons. For men, after quitting, the bilogical cravings are most prevalent feeling. Women, on the other hand, smoke to "manage moods, to deal with stress and to control weight."

Social Smoking

Cynthia Cary, coordinator of smoking cessation at the Upstate Medical University's HealthLink, says that not only is smoking more of an emotional behaviour for women, it's also social. She explains that women are inclined to smoke in groups, taking a friend along to light up. This makes smoking especially hard to quit, since the act of quitting means that one may have to break away from her social group.

Smoking en masse makes it difficult to quit

Cary further explains that because smoking is a social acitivity for women, attmpts at quitting not only requires kicking th ehabit, but it also requires a substitute for this social behaviour. Women may have to distance themselves from their social group to quit smoking and replace the activity with one that provides a social component. Men, she says, usually just see smoking cessation as just mind over matter.

Counseling helps assure succcess
Given this difficulty, Cary suggests counseling (either private or a group) to help smoker kick the habit. Success is validated by the therapist and the pysche's emotional component of smoking is tackled head-on.

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New Legislation Could Mean Tense Relations with Albany

2009-08-05T23:25:00.006-04:00

Draft of the Legislation presented to the Public Safety Committee before it went

to the full Legislature on Tuesday

Christine Pitawanich

NCC News

The Onondaga County Legislature took a stand against Albany. Tuesday afternoon, a unanimous vote approved County Executive, Joanne Mahoney, to press the state for money to house parole violators. The legislation also permits Mahoney to take legal action against Albany if they don’t pay up.

A Cut in State Spending

It all started on April 1, 2009 when state-wide budget cuts were issued because of the economic downturn. State funding to house parole violators disappeared, leaving local taxpayers with the full cost of housing inmates. According to the new legislation, if the state does not reimburse the county, it’s likely the average property owner will see higher taxes in 2010.

Unfunded Requirements

Currently, the state requires parole violators be held in county jails and up until now, Albany has partially reimbursed the county for the cost. 14^th District County Legislator, Casey Jordan, expressed his frustration, “They’re telling us that we have to house these parole violators but now they don’t want to give us any money at all,” he said.

A Burden for Local Taxpayers

And money is at the heart of the issue. According to legislation, it costs the county more than $100 per day to house parole violators. “Previously they were only paying roughly 40% of the cost and local tax payers were having to pay 60%. Now they want us to pay 100% of that cost,” said Jordan. “We should be reimbursed. It shouldn’t be something that is being imposed upon us without any choice in the matter.”

“Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick”

If the county can’t persuade Albany to partially reimburse the cost to house parolees, the new legislation will give Onondaga County the option to sue the state. Jordan disclosed that he wasn’t too eager for a lawsuit because it would cost taxpayers more money. But he admitted that the option of litigation might make Albany take the county more seriously, “I don’t think this is something we can really continue to take lying down,” said Jordan. “We need to make it clear that we will have every willingness to pursue legal action if that’s necessary.”

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Concerts at Stadium Put Syracuse on the Map

2009-08-05T23:01:00.006-04:00

Ashley Moss, NCC News

The Dave Matthews Band is rocking Syracuse is more ways than one. They returned to Syracuse last night for the first time in years and the venue of choice was the Alliance Bank Stadium, home of the Syracuse Chiefs.

This was their first concert there and the second of the summer at the Stadium. After last night's return of the Dave Matthew's Band, you may be seeing your next show there.

Stadium Staff Weighs In
Paul Fairbanks, Director of Sales for the Syracuse Chiefs, thinks holding concerts at the Stadium will give the city's economy a positive boost. He says the fact that Carousel mall and other local businesses are closeby will benefit their sales, and with fans coming from other states and even Canada, the economy will definitely see a positive gain. Fairbanks also believes holding fun events like this will boost the city's morale for the good.

Minor Concerns
There are some minor concerns about using the stadium as a concert venue, mostly with the grass and grounds being affected during baseball season. However, Fairbanks thinks the stadium staff has an excellent grounds and cleaning crew who will work hard to restore the stadium to glory after each event.

Overall, Event a Success
Overall, Fairbanks believes the Dave Matthews Band will put Syracuse on the map and says he expects the Stadium to host more concerts and events in the months to come.Many say they'll continue to attend concerts there in the future.

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Rapid Results in Free HIV Testing

2009-08-05T22:45:00.007-04:00

Lihuan Wang

NCC News

A free HIV testing and counseling event will be held tomorrow at the Northeast Community Center. The event, organized by the CNY Health Systems Agency, hopes to spread HIV and AIDS awareness and offer help to those infected.
Test Results on the Spot
The new test kits will be painless and rapid, says event coordinator Doctor Stephen Waldron. Unlike having to go through blood draw, people can now choose from pin-prick on fingers or oral swabs. The result will come out in 10 – 20 minutes as opposed to a few weeks after blood draw. “So you're sitting there watching the results develop”, says Doctor Waldron.
Reaching Out
Doctor Waldron believes there is still a lot of cultural resistance among people who are at risk of getting HIV and AIDS and that fear of the medical system is one of the reasons. He hopes the event can make people feel less intinmidated and perhaps tell a friend “getting tested is no big deal”.

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Foreclosures up at Home HeadQuarters

2009-08-05T22:29:00.007-04:00

Homes for sale are displayed at Home HeadQuarters in Downtown Syracuse.

Alex Blute

NCC News

The nation saw record home sales in June, but some Onondaga County residents are still facing foreclosure.

Workers at one local agency have seen a four-fold increase in people seeking foreclosure advice and are trying to help those people keep their homes.

Sharon Owens is one such employee.

She directs the Home Ownership Center at local non-profit Home HeadQuarters and offers counseling to Central New Yorkers who could lose their houses due to foreclosure.

Counseling for "Crisis Mode".

Owens gives legal and financial advice to people from all walks of life but says they need to ask for it before it's too late.

"If you anticipate that you're at a stage where I'm not going to be able to make payments, life happens," Owens says, "But, the message is the same: Get in early."

She says even though homes are being forclosed on all over the U.S. every client she sees at Home HeadQuarters feels catastrophic personal loss when faced with foreclosure.

"They're absolutely in crisis mode," she said.

"Despite the fact that they may not have been able to pay the mortgage for months, it still doesn't diminish the panic that sets in for people."

An Ironic Twist.

Home HeadQuarters -- ironically -- has also seen an increase in enrollment in their homebuyer assistance program.

Owens says President Obama's $8,000 tax credit who close the sale of their first home before December has prompted people formerly on the fence about buying to purchase a home.

Home HQ FINAL.mp3

Asthma Attacks Central New York

2009-08-05T21:39:00.003-04:00

Joshua Sims

NCC News

Awaiting Health Care
President Barack Obama continues to work on his health care reform plan for America. Help can not come soon enough for respiratory patients in Syracuse.

Scientists say above average rainfall in the northeast is resulting in an increase in damp moldy areas which causes problems for those suffering from asthma.

Respiratory Therapy Consult Coordinator Renee Bear says they are seeing above average numbers of patients for respiratory treatment at Crouse Hospital this summer.

Patients Struggle
Bear says a major problem is that many people are not able to get health insurance. “People are losing their jobs and there isn’t really a great health care insurance system that’s out there, so these patients that are losing their jobs don’t have health care,” she said.

Patients are coming in for treatment, however, when they leave the hospital they are struggling to afford the medications they need according to Bear. She says many are afraid to even come in for treatment because they are afraid of a large hospital bill.

Waiting on Reform

Bear says they will have to wait and see how president Obama’s health care reform impacts the community. She says the most important part of the plan will be which procedures and medical treatments the new plan will cover.

asthma complete.mp...

The NCAA Upsets Some Athletes

2009-08-05T21:33:00.004-04:00

Christian Dotson-Pierson

NCC News

NCAA Mission

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, is a non-profit organization that governs college sports. It promotes itself as an organization that focuses on academics before athletics; sports participants are called student-athletes. Yet some athletes, especially former ones, believe the NCAA is no longer functioning as an education oriented, non-profit organization. Instead, these athletes feel that their images are being used unfairly for financial gains; and they are not being compensated in any way.

Loss of respect

According to USA Today, the NCAA currently has three lawsuits filed against them, the most recent one having been filed July 21 of this year. Two of the three suits filed involve the NCAA's exploitation of former athletes for commercial gains, such as video games and DVD's. Athletes who are filing these claims are letting the NCAA know that their talents are not for sale. Additionally, it highlights the notion that the NCAA has lost its focus of placing education above all else.

Professionalism versus amateurism

College is a time when young adults are still learning about life. Sports, therefore, should be an outlet in which they can have fun and relax. Yet, with the growing pressure they face as athletes to be the "best of the best," the fun disappears. Dr. Boyce Watkins, a finance professor at SU, is an avid critic of the NCAA and its policies. He believes that the NCAA is sending mixed signals to the one group it should be protecting--the athletes. "You can't be a professional organization and maximize your revenue while at the same time expecting your athletes to be amateurs," Watkins said. It's best, then, that athletes be allowed to enjoy sports for what they are--healthy competition.

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Hope in a Time of Need

2009-08-05T20:44:00.002-04:00

Kara Labs

NCC News

Hope for the Bereaved is celebrating their 31st birthday this year. They have been helping families and friends in the Syracuse area deal with the deaths of their loved ones. But, since the recession they have seen a rise in the number of people that need help.
Ups and Downs
Kim Bermer works at Hope for the Bereaved and she comments that in a time of a recession charities are the institutions that are the first to really feel the effects. She says this is because, "people need to spend money on groceries and bills and they don't have the money to support that they usually would." But, also during a time of recession more people seek help from charities.
Rise in Violence?
During the past three months, Bermer has seen a rise in those seeking help at Hope for the Bereaved. Over these months, Bermer has also observed a rise in violence. She recently has entered approximately 35 new families into the database.
Straining to Help
The rise in people who need help, coupled with the limited funds due to the fact that the people who use the programs cannot donate as generously, has put a strain on Hope for the Bereaved's resources.
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To view a slideshow of Hope for the Bereaved click here: http://www.esnips.com/SlideShowPlayerAction.ns?id=d46d09a7-f3e4-44c8-a4ad-7ff970a60f1c&name=Hope+for+the+Bereaved+

Fitting Tribute

2009-08-05T17:55:00.003-04:00

Create a Free Slideshow

Rachel Silver

NCC News

-Madison County-- A militia private recently received recognition over two hundred years after the end of the war. Ebenezer Howard was recently discovered by his great-great-great-great grandson Gary Howard, a former Upstate New Yorker currently residing in Virginia, following a genealogy search that revealed the family's patriotic past. Ebenezer was honored last Saturday with a special grave marking ceremony for his service in the Revolutionary War.

Digging Up the Roots

The search for Ebenezer Howard, then unknown to his descendants, after Gary Howard decided to join the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) through more distant relatives on his maternal side. Howard says that after the first meeting, the registrar asked if he had ever searched the Howard line for a Revolutionary War connection.

Howard knew of family in Upstate New York, but had limited information to go on for his search. After researching his family tree with the help of other SAR members, Howard discovered his patriotic ancestor and began preparations for a ceremony to honor Ebenezer.

Howard History

The Howard family's roots in the United States come even long before the birth of the nation. John Howard, Gary's great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, left London for the colonies in 1635 at the age of 15. He and the rest of the Howard line through Ebenezer lived in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Several of his descendants still remain in the area.

Ebenezer Howard was born in Bridgewater in Plymouth County in 1752 to parents Seth and Mary. He served as a private in the Massachusetts militia during the Revolutionary War, and later moved to Madison County in Central New York after the war. He remained there with his wife, Silence Snell, and their ten children until his death in 1818. He is buried in Indian Opening Cemetery along with several of his relatives.

Ebenezer's son, Albert, followed the family's military tradition through his service in the War of 1812.

Special Ceremony

Up until his recent discovery, Ebenezer, his service and his grave were virtually unknown for nearly two hundred years. However, with his resting place and history now revealed, he has finally gained his long overdue recognition.

Ebenezer was honored Saturday with a grave marking ceremony where a bronze plaquewas revealed commemorating his service in the Revolutionary War. In addition to Gary Howard, his family and other descendants, Ebenezer received tribute and prayers from members of several historical and military societies, including the SAR and their counterparts, the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The ceremony gained special attention from townspeople and historical experts for some of its more remarkable elements, culminating in a military gun salute. The sounds of rifle and musket fire echoed through the cemetery over the sound of a military trumpet taps as embers of the American Legion as well as Revolutionary War costumed members of the Fort Stanwix color guard fired in perfect unison.

Joining the salute was a special guest uncommon to similar ceremonies- a representative from the Oneida Indian Nation. Considered one of the nation's first allies, the Oneida Indian Nation presented Gary Howard with an additional tribute to Ebenezer.

According to SAR Oriskany Battle Chapter President George Gydeson, who helped Gary in much of his research and in setting up the ceremony, Ebenezer's grave marking was viewed by as many as four to five times the normal number of attendants, despite his moderate rank.

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Tearing Homes Down To Build Up The Community

2009-08-05T17:52:00.002-04:00

Jason Lucas

NCC News

Since 2006, Hope For Us Housing has helped the city of Syracuse by tearing down old unoccupied homes. The private organization contracts deconstruction projects with other organizations in the area such as the city of Syracuse, Empire State Development, and the Atlantic States Legal Foundation. Hope For Us Housing places and trains unemployed workers to work at their deconstruction project sites. Lamar Middleton, the organization’s co-founder, estimated the organization creates about 60 jobs per month. "We're doing more than creating jobs, we're creating minds and developing minds with these individuals," explained Middleton.

Steady Work?

In July 2009, Hope For Us Housing implemented a training program to teach its employees additional skills such as carpentry and lead abatement. Middleton’s first class of trainees finishes the program later this month and the most of the class will have employment through Hope For Us Housing. One of the biggest obstacles the program faces if finding enough projects for its workers So far in 2009, the organization has worked on 10 projects and rotated its employees to the different project sites. Middleton said employment might run out for future employees if there is a shortage of projects available to his organization.

Tearing Down Homes to Building Green

Hope For Us Housing donates home building materials that are in good condition from its deconstruction sites to Habitat for Humanity. The next step for Hope For Us Housing will be green technology, according to Middleton. Middleton is in the beginning stages of partnering with the Atlantic States Legal Foundation on future projects.

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Local Caterers Doing Well This Summer Despite Budget Conscious Brides and Grooms

2009-08-05T17:47:00.008-04:00

Sara Sultanik

NCC News

Summer is the season of weddings. But with the economic downturn, many couples and families just can't afford the wedding of their dreams. But there's one thing local couples are not skimping on for their "big day" : THE FOOD.

Bride on a Budget

Local bride-to-be Mandy Moot is getting married on August 29th to her fiance Jason. But with being a one income household, along with the tough economy, The Moots have been trying to cut the costs of their wedding. They cut down her guest list and bought simpler party favors, but the one thing Mandy and Jason had to spend money on was the food. Mandy said she chose to have a caterer so her "[reception] won't be like a backyard barbeque." She wants her guests to have a great time at a classier affair and she believes a caterer will provide that atmosphere.

Local Caterers Doing Better Than Ever

The Moots must not be the only couple thinking food is important for an event. Local catering companies are doing great this summer. The catering company Mandy and Jason hired, Tiffany's Catering Company in Syracuse says business is nearly 30 percent better this summer compared to last. And Teresa Seeley, owner of Diamond Catering in Syracuse says this is her busiest summer to date.

Lowering Prices Boosts Business

Teresa Seeley says she lowered catering costs this summer because of the troubled economy. Diamond Catering's special for summer costs only six dollars per head. But she doesn't think her business is in trouble regardless of the special. She said, "People do still have to get married...it doesn't matter what the economy dictates." Seeley stated there will always be something to celebrate which means caterers will stay in business.

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New Teen Center for JCC

2009-08-05T11:06:00.003-04:00

Elyssa Rosenbaum

NCC News

More Than A Mall

Shoppingtown Mall in DeWitt is becoming more than just a place to shop. As retail tenants left, more non-traditional tenants began moving in. The mall is now home to CNY Gym Centre, Mouseketeers Fencing, and the DeWitt Library, among other tenants. The Jewish Community Center of Syracuse plans to be the newest addition.

Teens Need a Place of Their Own

The Jewish community Center has begun to see a need for more teen programming, especially for pre-teens who have aged out of the JCC's after school program, but are still too young to stay home alone.

Director of Children and Teen Services, Lori Innella-Venne says "Pre-teens and teens need a space and a place of their own, that they could have ownership of."

Appealling to Parents

Innella-Venne added that she thinks it will appeal to parents of younger teens, who might not want to leave their kids home alone after school, or let them wander around the mall on a Saturday night. The JCC is currently working with teens enrolled in their summer camp to come up with plans for the new center. Ideas mentioned so far include coffeehouses, open mic nights, poker nights and even homework help.

The JCC hopes to open the new teen center by October.

Mixing It Up

2009-07-31T10:57:00.011-04:00

Lihuan Wang

NCC News

The Slutzker Center for International Services at Syracuse University is in its busiest time of the year, preparing for the arrival of about 2500 new international students.

International Students in Schools

The Slutzker Center is working with the Syracuse School District to bring SU's international students into K-12 and high schools in the Syracuse Area. Elane Granger, Associate Director of the Slutzker Center says the program is designed to expose American young people to differences. She said if the American young could have immediate contact with foreign individuals, it would help them understand and appreciate others who are different.

"Mix It Up"

"Mix It Up" is another initiave of the Slutzker Center to achieve mutual understanding between international students and their American schoolmates. Thoughts and ideas are exchanged over food and drinks. And perhaps, some foreign countries would no longer be a space on the map, but a place full of variety and people. "It's hard to get American students to come, but if they come once, they love it," said Granger.

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The Maxwell Trial is Underway

2009-07-30T23:36:00.003-04:00

Christian Dotson-Pierson

NCC News

The Maxwell Trial

The Maxwell trial has attracted much media attention to the small town of Palermo, NY. Erin Maxwell was choked to death last August. Her parents, Lindsey and Lynn Maxwell, are charged with four counts each of child endangerment. Their house was in deplorable condition; it smelled like cat urine and was compared to the scent of ammonia. State trooper Shawn Finkle, who was the first witness on the stand, also added that chickens and cats were kept in cages in the kitchen.

Community Concern

There was a crowd of about 50 people on hand to listen and hear the opening statements last night. During a break from questioning, they stood around, talking amongst each other. A neighbor of the Maxwells shared his thoughts, saying "justice will be served."

And it continues....

The trial will continue tomorrow and through Saturday, if necessary. Erin's stepbrother, Alan Jones, who has been charged with her murder, goes to trial September 8.

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Fallen Marine Honored in Oneida

2009-07-30T23:00:00.009-04:00

Alex Blute

NCC News

As the hearse carrying the body of Lance Corporal Jeremy Lasher moved down Main street in Oneida today, it seemed the only sounds were a low grumbling of the casket's motorcycle escort and the quiet weeping of so many mourners.

The body arrived earlier that day at Griffiss Airfield in Rome and was led by a prosession to Oneida.

Lance Corporal Lasher, an Oneida native and former firefighter, was killed last week in combat in Afghanistan.

He leaves behind a wife, Andrea and a one-year-old son, Caden.

A father, a son, a soldier.

The marine also leaves a community of people who say Lasher will be remembered at a good person -- they were there on Main Street today, pinning yellow ribbons to trees and waving American flags in Lasher's memory.

17-year-old Eric Seitz was one of those people.

Seitz, who's father returned from battle in Iraq 90% disabled, said he felt lucky just to have his father back alive.

He came from South Carolina to pay his respects to Lasher's family.

"I came out here today because my father came back from Iraq and I kind of felt bad that another family didn't get that luxury," he said.

A sad statistic.

Lasher was the first Oneida resident killed in battle since the Vietnam War.

Weekend Family Event Won't Stretch Wallets Thin

2009-07-30T22:46:00.009-04:00

Special Events Coordinator for the City of Syracuse Parks and
Recreation Department, Jeff Satalin, at Clinton Square.

Christine Pitawanich
NCC News

The Start of Something Big?

This Saturday, the City of Syracuse’s Parks and Recreation Department is hosting their first ever Family Friendzy. The event will last from 10AM to 6PM at Clinton Square. The goal, is to bring families together for a day of free fun.

Affordable Fun

Family Friendzy will be a welcome option for families on a budget. “We do the events free of charge. It helps a bunch of families and anyone else who may not be able to go to these other festivals that charge for things,” said Special Events Coordinator, Jeff Satalin.

For the Kids

There will be entertainment lined up as well. Justin Bieber, a young singer who was recently signed onto Usher’s recording label, is scheduled to do a free concert. In addition, kids can learn about other cultures while Vietnamese, Irish, and Ukrainian dance groups perform. “We try to open it up to as many cultures as possible,” emphasized Satalin.

For the Grown-Ups

However, parents won’t be left out of the fun. While the kids learn about different cultures, play games, or entertain themselves with something else, parents have the option of getting a manicure, pedicure or a massage for a nominal fee.

An Option for Families this Weekend

Quanasha Freeman, a little girl living in Syracuse said she is excited for Family Friendzy, “It sounds very fun. I would like to play a lot of games.” Her step-mother, Niccole Mattice is also looking forward to the event, “It’s good to have the kids out having fun for the summertime doing fun things, playing fun games and enjoying the summer itself; it’s a beautiful thing.”

Niccole Mattice with her family and friends.

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Beer, Wine, and Liquor. . on Aisle 6

2009-07-30T22:43:00.006-04:00

(Gary Decker's personal bar)

Dontre Conerly

NCC NewsThis. . .Again?
When Governor Paterson proposed a bill to allow grocery stores in the state of New York to sell wine in grocery stores in February, it sent a chill through the liquor industry. Opponents claimed Paterson's idea that the state's grocery stores would create an influx of revenue (when they paid for liquor licenses) didn't consider their bottom line. Small liquor stores and wineries worried that large big-box stores would not only provide the state with a "quick fix," but it would drive them out of business. How could they compete with a store that bought in larger volume and could offer cheaper prices. Many owners, such as Gary Decker, who owns Vinomania in downtown Syracuse, argues that it would create the Wal-Mart effect, where large stores would come in and "gobble up" their competition. This wan't free-market capitalism, they said; it was a take-over. How could they compete?

New Day, Same Effect
The new bill, proposed in the New York state Senate by Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, and in the state Assembly by Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit has built-in incentives that the represenatives hopes will appease their opponents. Under the current law, liquor stores are limited to sell only wine and liquor; the new proposal would allow the sale of non-alcoholic beverages, as well as snacks, ice, and wine accessories. In addition, liquor stores would gain longer hours of operation and the ability to register for multiple licenses, which they can sell if they close. This, Decker says, is hardly a comfort. "You'd be competing with the big guy again," he says. "You don't go to the liquor store for that. You go to the grocery store." Again, he says that by their sheer volume, he'd "break [his] back" to sell water for $1.00, when grocery stores could sell it for $.50. In addition, he explains that these new items would take up the finite shelf space of liquor and wine stories, thus pulling their merchandise off the floor.

Communication is key
Another point of instigation for Decker, and others, is that the state doesn't inform them of decisions; it simply forces it on them. "They don't send us anything. I only knew about this 'cause I read it in the paper and saw it on the news." Decker recounts an instance where he was given three-day notice of a tax the state levied on all wine on the floor that he had previously bought (and paid tax on). "If they had told me, I wouldn't have bought new inventory. I would have let it whittle down." Instead, Decker had a full floor of wine and was taxed (again) on his entire floor's inventory. This is just one illustration, he says, of how the state doesn't take mom and pop businesses into consideration.

No happy medium
"It's just a bad idea," says Decker. "It's a quick fix and two or three years from now, when they've got all the money from the licenses, they are going to find themselves with lots of real estate from empty stores that have gone out of business." A coalition of wine and liquor store owners, the Last Store on Main Street, opposes the bill and were pivotal to the fight that defeated the bill in February. They are opposed to the new proposal. The coalition's spokesperson told the Post-Standard ""This is not a compromise. [It's] another attempt by big box stores to kill small stores around the state." In her guess, more than 1,000 small stores would be driven out of business under the new bill.

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Soldiers Feel at Home at Hancock Airport

2009-07-30T22:42:00.004-04:00

Front View of the Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room at Hancock Airport

Ashley Moss, NCC News

Syracuse's Hancock Airport provides a "home away from home" for Soldiers. Just one year old, the Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room is a unique hideaway at Hancock Airport. A "living room" of sorts, it's furnished with a big screen tv and a kitchen. It’s place for Soldiers to pass the time while they are waiting for flights to various places or rides to local military installations.

Humble Beginnings

Even though there are many courtesy lounges around the country, the Harris room is privately funded and maintained. The idea for the room came from two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at the Airport who wanted Servicemen to be able to relax in a comforting and nurturing environment. Because the the size of the Hancock Airport and the smaller population of military traffic compared to larger cities, supporters of the room could not advocate for federal funds to run it so they rely on the generous donations of many and the work of eight staff members and 65 volunteers who dedicate four hours per shift to the cause.

Living Legacy for a Soldier

For volunteer Mary Ann working at the courtesy room is much more than a community service project. The room was named for her second cousin, a Military POW and missing in action. Gregory J. Harris a local Syracuse resident who served the United States in the Vietnam War. Harris was . His family has not let his name fall in vain. In fact, his mother walked almost 600 miles in honor of her son. To this day he has not been accounted for. Reitano believes helping other Soldiers, even in the smallest ways is a tribute to the memory of her cousin. She says, " Finally something positive has come out of his loss."

All are Welcome

The number of Soldiers passing through varies, but as many as 60 have visited in one day. The Courtesy room has even accomodated Soldiers overnight due to bad weather or flight cancellations. Though this was the first visit for Private First Class Michael Vaughn of Richmond, Virginia, he still appreciated the effort. Of the room, he says, " Its great...just to have somewhere to go when you get here."

Celebration
This week the Gregory J. Harris Courtesy Room is celebrating a huge milestone: it's one year anniversary. The festivities will culminate tomorrow night at the at the Syracuse Chiefs game. A Lance Corporal from the Marines will throw out the first pitch.

Ashley Moss, N-C-C News

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2009-07-30T21:28:00.004-04:00

Palermo resident Steven Burdick stood outside during a short reccess in the trial with a sign

Joshua Sims

NCC News

Trial
The Maxwell trial is underway at Palermo Town Court. The trial will determine whether Lynn and Lindsay Maxwell endangered the welfare of 11 year-old Erin Maxwell who was found dead last August at the Maxwell house.

Opening statements were made last night and state Trooper Shawn Finkle took the stand to testify.

Officer’s Account
Finkle described the conditions inside the home from August 29, 2008 when he arrived at the Maxwell’s home. He described the stench in the house as “simply overpowering.” Finkle said he was in the house for only 20 minutes however, the smell was so potent that when he came home he had to send his uniform to the cleaners.

Finkle also said there were cages with cats and chickens in the kitchen. He said he also walked into both Erin’s bedroom and the master bedroom which was filled with approximately 20 cats.

Account of Neighbors
Many were present at the trial including Palermo resident Steven Burdick. “I’ve been just in here for the past couple hours listening and it really makes you sad what the little girl went through,” said Burdick.

A neighbor of the Maxwell’s says justice will be served.

The trial resumes at 7 p.m. at the Palermo Town Court.

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25 Years of Building Homes and Hope

2009-07-30T20:46:00.005-04:00

Rachel Silver

NCC News

-Syracuse--The local chapter of a national charity marks a landmark anniversary this year. Syracuse Habitat for Humanity celebrates 25 years of building homes and helping people at or below the poverty line in the Syracuse and Central New York area.

Building Hope

Syracuse Habitat is nearly as old as Habitat for Humanity International, opening only a few years after the original organization. Habitat for Humanity brings homes to families seeking quality living and that fit the criteria of living in substandard housing and with incomes below the poverty line.

While new home sales may be up across the country, for the people that look toward Habitat for Humanity for help, the cost of housing remains too high. "The poverty rate in Central New York is pretty high based on the national average," says Executive Director Suzanne Williams, accounting for the over 200 hundred Habitat housing applications pending in the area at any given time.

Syracuse Habitat has built homes for 52 families and utilizes approximately 500 volunteers per month, especially during the busier building season. They also offer products and services from the ReStore, a Habitat business that sells home materials salvaged from demolished houses at reasonable prices.

Celebration

In addition to regular scheduled events, including Habitat's second annual golf tournament on August 3rd, Syracuse Habitat will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a Bow Ties and Tool Belts grand celebration in November

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Tanning has Staying Power

2009-07-30T17:13:00.005-04:00

Kara Labs

NCC News

Since tanning beds were created in the early 1900s, there have been numerous studies done on the negative and positive effects of tanning. A recently released study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer compared tanning beds to carcinogens and increased the risk of cancer.
Business Woes?
Garbos Salon Tanning Centre and Day Spa on South Crouse Avenue in Syracuse is just one of many tanning salons in the city. Ashley Dailey, salon coordinator at the spa says that she is not worried about a decrease in customers because of the study. "Most of the time customers don't think about the health risks."
Good in Moderation
Dailey commented that even doctors recommend tanning in moderation. In areas like Syracuse, where it is very cold much of the year, tanning can replace the vitamin D you lose in the winter. It is also used to treat eczema, acne, depression and arthritis.
Tanning Beds and Cars...
The tanning business, Dailey says, is not in any real danger. There are so many people who do tan that it does not make a difference if a new study comes out finding it to be harmful. Dailey compared tanning beds to cars saying that they come out with a new version of the last model, add new features and go up in price, so the business has at least some staying power.
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Packing from Hundreds To Plannning For Thousands

2009-07-30T16:56:00.004-04:00

Jason Lucas

NCC News

It all started in 2002. Mary Nelson knew she had to do something and she used the shooting death of her nephew, Darryl Patterson, as her inspiration to start her backpack and book drive. Nelson said her nephew always loved kids and he would even hand toys to kids out of his vehicle around Christmas time, so she decided to distribute school supplies as an to help kids in South Salina Street area focus on school. “I wanted let children know and their parents know there's an alternative to violence, it's to stay in school and continue education," explained Nelson. At the conclusion of her first school supply drive, Nelson handed out school supplies to about 850 kids during Nelson’s first Youth Day Barbecue in 2002.

A Backpck And So Much More

Nelson started collecting school supplies for over 10,000 kids from pre-k to college on July 13. Nelson needs backpacks the most, because she fills the backpacks with a variety of school supplies and even clothes in some cases. The backpack may be another supply to some, but Nelson thinks backpacks are a symbol of knowledge because of all the knowledge a backpack holds when it is full of books. Nelson added that the backpack full of supplies is designed to help parents with school supplies until the parents receive their next check, but the kids are always welcomed to more supplies if their family is having difficulty buying school supplies.

This Years' Drive

Supplying school supplies to thousands of kids in Syracuse is tough, but Nelson appreciates the help she receives from the community. "I just told people what I needed, what I wanted, what I'm short of and they made sure I have it, and it was there for me,” said Nelson. Say Yes to Education, a national non-profit education organization, will boost Nelson’s efforts by donating backpacks for the backpack and book drive. Nelson is taking donations until August 10. Donations can be dropped off at the Mary Nelson Community Center at 2849 South Salina Street, Syracuse and Jacobsen Hall at The backpacks filled with school supplies distributed at Nelson’s eight annual Youth Day Barbecue on August 15, which will take place at the corner of Wood Avenue and South Salina Street in Syracuse.

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Princeton Review Ranks Syracuse University 8th for Having Minimal Interracial and Social Class Interaction

2009-07-30T16:26:00.004-04:00

Sara Sultanik

NCC News

The Princeton Review's latest college and university rankings came out earlier this week. The Review's latest book, The Best 371 Colleges, has top twenty rankings in sixty-two categories. These categories range from top party schools to school with most religious students. And Syracuse University ranked highly in a category. The university was ranked eighth in the country for having little race and social class interaction.

And the Students Agree

Many Syracuse University students agree with this rating. Chinese American student Diana Zhang says, "If you look around campus, you see people walking around with the same people as their own ethnic group." And Indian graduate student Mehul Palan agrees with Zhang's comment when he said, "Most of my friends are Indians."

Why do SU Students Congregate Their Same Race?

Zhang also thinks she knows why SU students hang out with their same ethnicity: "I believe it's a natural feeling because if you don't know anybody, you tend to be pulled to people who look like you...because you have something in common." But the University's Office of Multicultural Affairs Director James Duah- Agyeman isn't disturbed by the ranking or even if students spend most if their time with their own race. He just hopes that by the time students graduate, they will be able to respect and appreciate different cultures.

How to Eliminate the Little Race Interaction

The Office of Multicultural Affairs has a program called "Talk to me to Know Me." This program is an open forum for people of different cultures to get to know one another and talk to one another so students do not make assumptions about a person just by they way they look.

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EBooks in Syracuse?

2009-07-30T16:22:00.005-04:00

Beth Long

NCC News

Could eBooks be the next big 'thing' to hit the nation? Barnes and Noble booksellers think so.

The world’s largest bookseller, launched the worlds largest eBookstore, earlier this week. eBooks are the full text of books, accessible on your mobile device or computer.

Along with the launch of the eBookstore, Barnes and Noble released an iPhone app to access eBooks anywhere. The free app, in less than a week has climbed to the top spot in the "Top Free Apps" under the "Books" category in the Apple Store.

Barnes and Noble's Maria Kulikowsky says "sometimes you can’t have the paper book in their hands, sometimes we don't have it available right there and then, and those ebooks are going to be there at any time whenever they want it."

Barnes and Noble's eBookstore has over 700,000 titles, which can be downloaded anywhere you have internet access. Barnes and Noble of Dewitt, Kulikowsky says, is adding free Wi-Fi in the store, to make eBooks more accessible.

Kulikowsky says that if you download the iPhone app and bring it to the Dewitt Barnes and Noble you can get a free coffee. She's tried it and seems to like it, "I thought it was interesting, practical if your in a place where you forgot your book, don't have your book with you have to wait"

Fallen Marine Remebered

2009-07-30T16:17:00.003-04:00

Elyssa Rosenbaum

NCC News

A Community Mourns

Several thousand people gathered in Oneida on Thursday, to honor Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Lasher, who was killed in Afghanistan on July 23, 2009. People from the community and as far away as South Carolina gathered along the route of the procession bringing Lance Cpl. Lasher from Griffiss Air Field to the funeral home in Oneida.

A Somber Memorial

When the soldiers body reached the funeral home, a small, silent ceremony was held as he was carried into the funeral home under an awning of American Flags. He was followed by his family, including his mother, stepfather, wife, and 1 year old son.

"Once a Marine, Always a Marine"

Retired Air Force Veteran Don Woodward says he, and all members of the military have an extremely high level of respect for Marines. He was among those who took time to line Main Street in Oneida.

17-year-old Eric Seitz, of South Carolina was also there to honor Lance Cpl. Lasher, even though he did not know him. Seitz says he feels lucky that his own father came home from Iraq alive. He said, "I feel bad because another family didn't get the luxury of having their family member come back."

Lance Cpl. Lasher was the first Oneida resident to be killed in action since Vietnam.

Scenes from the Procession

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New York City Teen Loves CNY in the Summer

2009-07-30T15:48:00.003-04:00

Max Cole
NCC News

16 year-old Brooklyn native Brian Mitchell is loving Central New York. Brian is part of the Fresh Air Fund program, which takes New York City children and places them with host families in Central New York for the summer.

Like Family

Deb Green and her family live in Pennellville (home pictured left). They have hosted Brian for the past five summers. Mrs. Green says that her family "love[s] Brian like [their] own son." Mrs. Green says that she looks forward to having Brian back in future summers.

Space to Move

Brian says he enjoys all that Central New York has to offer, and says that "If I was home I would just be sitting in the house." He has been to several waterparks, and enjoys going to the YMCA. The Fresh Air Fund program has been in existence for more than one hundred years. For more information on the program, visit www.freshair.org.

Pot Bailout?

2009-07-30T15:45:00.006-04:00

Tarryn Lael Simmons
NCC News

How ironic would this sign become if marijuana was legalized?

The Consumer Confidence Index dropped 3 points to 46.6% this month. Economist surveyed by Thomas Reuters were hoping for a reading of 49. It would take a 90% reading to signal a stable economy. Although the housing market is showing some signs of improvement, Americans are still weary - Economists cite the lack of job security in a poor economy as the culprit.

As the economy continues to shrink, politicians, economist, and regular citizens alike are considering a controversial way to help bailout America. During California's budget crisis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for "a debate" on the possibility of utilizing marijuana for tax revenues. Cathy Carbone of Clay agrees, saying "People in society today are already smoking pot...so legalizing it would only help the economy."

Harvard economist, Jeffrey Miron says legalizing marijuana would have a tremendously positive effect on the country's economic state. Nationally, legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion on drug-war spending and raise $6.2 billion in tax revenues - each year.

Some are concerned about the impact legalization would have on society. Chirstina Fortino of Cicero says, "...if they legalize [pot]...you might find more people going to work high." President Obama's drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, declared this month that "marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit." He was a further buzz kill by stating that "Legalization is not in the president's vocabulary, and it's not in mine."

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Airport "Military Room" Makes Soldiers Feel At Home

2009-07-30T14:26:00.003-04:00

The Courtesy Room includes informaton about Gregory Harris, the Marine for which the room is named.

weblog.

Gregory Harris Military Courtesy Room was named for Gregory Harris, A Syracuse Native and Military POW who was captured by Viet Cong Soldiers in 1966. He has not been accounted for.

The Military Courtesy Room is a unique hideaway set up like a living room at the far end of the baggage terminal. It has a small kitchen and a "living room" of sorts, set up with chairs and a TV.

The Military Courtesy Room privately is celebrating it's one year anniversary this week and will culminate it's celebration with a Chiefs Baseball game tomorrow evening.

Repeat Offender

2009-07-28T23:25:00.018-04:00

Dontre L. Conerly

NCC News

Syracuse--He's been fined over $200,000 and assigned more than 300 hours of community service. . . but he's never paid or showed up. After 21 arrests for grafitti in the last three years, Jason Wood has become as infamous for skirting the law as the "tag" that leads to his arrests.

Infamy

His initials are not JDK, but Jordan C. Wood, 19, of Solvay, uses the initials as his tag, which stand for "Jeffrey Dahmers Kid." Ranging in size from one square foot to 30 feet long and 12 feet tall, Wood's tags are usually simple script or shaded bubble letters, in red, black, or white. He's also been known to use the tag "NSer." He's perfected the tag over the course of years, and has had several brushes with the law because of it.

Finally Caught

When police apprehended a man spray-painting on a building on Westcott Street in the early hours of June 14, 2009, they were not surprised that it was Wood, a repeat offender for the act. When they picked him up, he was wearing rubber gloves and had cans of spray paint. Local business owners had complained of grafitti on their buildings for weeks, so much so that they had gotten used to it. They bought paint and simply covered it up, only to return the next day and find it again; sometimes more than the day before and larger. Dino Centra, owner of Westcott Florist, says five-gallon buckets of grey paint cost him $80-$90 each and usually did the job, but some tags were so large they required a professional paint job, a cost of a couple hundred dollars.

Community Outrage

When shop owners found out that Wood was the culprit and had been arrested over 20 times for criminal mischief--the charge for vandalism--they were hoping for a stronger sentence this time around. Community service and fines haven't seemed to deter him, so Centra is calling for time behind bars. "I think maybe he should get some jail time," he says, "since the other punishment obviously hasn't worked." Wood spent only five days in jail before he was released on $50,000 bail and given a strict warning by a judge. He heads back to court in September, but if he's caught vandalizing property before then, it's automatic jail time.

Copycats and Restitution

Centra worries that if Wood is given a lenient sentence again, others who tag buildings may continue to deface property, unafraid of any real punishment by the law. He thinks that perfect payment would be customized community-service. "I think restitution should be that maybe they come back and paint the building themselves," he says.

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Grafitti for SNIPS...

Syracuse Ranked #9 on America's Dying Cities

2009-07-28T22:53:00.009-04:00

Syracuse Chamber of Commerce

Ashley Moss, NCC News

The list of America's Dying Cities is out and the news is not good for Syracuse. The city is ranked number nine on this year's list by AOL and Forbes. The city was one of three locations in upstate New York on this year's list.

Syracuse was added to the list because of the shrinking population and lagging home sales. Constance Maute of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce thinks it's important to look beyond the numbers: " Syracuse is more than just this little pocket of foreclosed housing on the near westside or on the southside."

Local Resident Says Improve Jobs

Syracuse resident Beth Worthey thinks Syracuse needs to offer better jobs, not just more minimum wage jobs to its residents. Worthey believes that better jobs will allow people to spend their money more freely. The unemployment rate in the city was over eight percent for the month of June compared with nearly ten percent for the national average.

Fresh Start for Syracuse
Studies show that the city's population has decreased at least five percent in eight years, but Constance Maute hopes the city will build on the positive things. She'd hopes to see downtown revitalized with various boutiques and restaurants.

Maute is also looking forward to some unique events happening at the Iverson Museum to draw more residents and visitors. There is also a fresh new wave of business opportunities that will hopefully take Syracuse off the list.

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Recruitment Exam Too Difficult for Firefighters?

2009-07-28T22:35:00.004-04:00

Joshua Sims
NCC News

Discrimination

Last Wednesday a federal judge in Brooklyn ruled that fire department recruiting tests discriminated against black and Hispanic applicants. Firefighters at one local station in Syracuse propose ways in which Fire Departments throughout the state can alleviate this problem.

Lieutenant Duriel Carney, a firefighter at station 10 of the Syracuse Fire Department says the recruitment exam may be geared toward those who are exposed to the industry however there is no blatant discrimination in the wording of the test.

“Many times individuals who have been exposed to the fire service or civil service examinations or maybe are volunteers have an advantage…but I don’t feel like there’s a blatant discrimination in the wording of the test,” said Carney.

Test Geared For Some
However, Lieutenant Sara Errington says the test did not seem that job related and may benefit people who have family on the job.

Recruitment Tractics

Carney says although diversity within fire Departments in Syracuse is a concern it should not be the focal point when recruiting.

“The job is to get the best guy...No one should have this job just because they are black or they’re a woman or just for diversities sake,” said Carney.

Solution

He says in order to recruit new firefighters the department needs to expose different types of people to it. He says not everyone reads the Post Standard. Fire departments need to go into colleges and the community to make people aware of the opportunity to apply to be a firefighter.

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Chocolaty Delights

2009-07-28T22:27:00.017-04:00

Lihuan Wang

NCC News

It's high time for a little indulgence as July 28th each year is the National Milk Chocolate Day, according to CDKitchen.com. The website has a complete and growing list of fun food holidays.

Most people wouldn't have heard about the slightly bizzare festival, but many think it's a good reason to treat themselves. "I feel amazed," said SU student Altan Senaydin, "I'm so happy. In fact I'm gonna go to a gas station and find some milk chocolate."

And there is a festival for just about every kind of food in the online list of holidays. It seems that people don't mind having them around. Steven Winston of Pennsylvania certainly believes the more, the merrier. "I certainly would endorse an ice-cream festival, a chocolate festival, just about anything-you-can-eat festival I would endorse." Winston said.

When he found out that the National Lasagna Day and the National Cheesecake Day are to follow. Senaydin chuckled: "People are gonna get fat."

The American Red Cross Teaches On-The-Go People How to Save a Life

2009-07-28T22:27:00.014-04:00

Christine Pitawanich
NCC News

Learn to Save a Life While Sitting at Your Computer

The Onondaga-Oswego chapter of the American Red Cross offers online CPR and Automated External Defibrillator training for people who are too busy for a traditional class. It’s a relatively new program that, for the local chapter, began in February.

Numbers Slowly Climb

Though the program is new, enrollment is up. So far, an estimated 100 people have successfully finished it. “We’ve had a steady increase every month” said Keith Bertrand, a local Red Cross trainer.

Traditional vs. Online Classes?

By far, the biggest reason people choose online training is the convenience factor. As opposed to the traditional CPR/AED class which takes about five hours from start to finish, internet users have the option to use up to 14 days to finish the online portion of the test. “It’s more convenient because you could do it anytime,” said Harry Fowler, a resident of Syracuse who has been through the program.

Busy Lives

Plus, many of the traditional CPR and AED classes are held when people might not have spare time. “Most of our classes that we hold here at the chapter are in the evenings and some people aren’t free in the evenings,” said Bertrand. “I think people like having options,” he later added.

The Physical Skills

Though the reading and testing is online, the skills portion of the test must be done in person at the chapter. Scheduling is flexible because the skills test usually only takes two hours.

A Little More Expensive, A Lot More Convenient

According to Bertrand, taking the Adult CPR and AED class online is $10 more than the traditional course offering, but it’s much more convenient. For a list of other courses the local Red Cross offers online, visit www.syrarc.org.

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Oasis Seniors to Help Kids Fight Obesity

2009-07-28T20:30:00.007-04:00

Alex Blute

NCC News

The Oasis Senior Education Program usually helps Syracuse residents over 50 stay active and invloved with the community through health and continuing education classes.

Now, a new program is allowing them to reach out to a younger generation to help stop the obesity epidemic in America.

The work, done in conjunction with child health organization C.A.T.C.H Kids, facilitates groups of volunteers age 50 and older who will attend after-school programs of children in Syracuse and teach them the dos and donts of healthy living.

Senior Volunteers, who go through health training before beginning their work, teach a health-oriented lesson, make a nutritious snack and do exercise with the students in an effort to improve exercise and eating habits of typically underserved children in grades 3 through 5.

The program, that will begin this fall, has never been done in Syracuse but has been tested in other states with very favorable results.

A Problem that Keeps Growing

Sally Terek, who coordinates the program through the Oasis center says obesity affects every age group of Americans.

She said if nothing is done to stop the cycle of poor eating and little exercise, all Americans could be obese by the middle of this century.

"We've just seen an incline of health issues with obesity right up to adulthood in seniors with diabetes and other issues," she said.

Play-time. Not Play Sation.

She's hopes senior citizens, who grew up with smaller portions and play-time instead of video-games, will teach kids with often-absent parents healthy habits.

"It's kind of neat to bring in possible a generation that remembers activity and not Gameboy, remembers that healthy food -- we can have a great snack with peanut butter and celery, we don't have to go and eat a bag of chips," Terek said. "It's inter-generational and that's what's hopefullygonna' work here and it has worked elsewhere."

Coming to a School Near You?

Terek says she's in the process of scheduling the 4 or 8-week programs at area after-school programs and is always interested in hearing from interested elementary officials.

And, she says, she’s always in need of older volunteers.

Sally Terek and the Oasis Program can be reached at TerekS@upstate.edu or at (315) 464-1746.

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CENTRO Ends a Longtime Tradition

2009-07-28T20:21:00.006-04:00

Max Cole

NCC News

After being used for decades, starting Friday, July 31st, CENTRO will no longer be accepting tokens on buses. Director of Marketing Steven Koegel says one reason for the decision is that there are "no companies that currently manufacture the types of tokens that we use." Koegel also indentified customer convenience as a major factor in the decision.

Swipe Away

Many CENTRO travelers already use multi-ride and unlimited passes, and Koegel expects these numbers to increase after the tokens are phased out. The new policy will also help CENTRO as Koegel thinks it will "quicken the boarding process [on buses], so we think that it will provide a quicker service perhaps."

What to do with the Tokens?

Travelers who have tokens can bring them to the main CENTRO office on Cortland Avenue or to the downtown information booth on the corner of Fayette and Salina Street to exchange them for bus passes. For more information, please visit CENTRO's website.

Out of this World Ambitions

2009-07-28T20:19:00.004-04:00

Rachel Silver

NCC News

-Syracuse--One Central New Yorker could be on his way to making his childhood dreams come true. James Pattarini, a graduate of Syracuse University and current SUNY Buffalo medical student, returned this week from NASA's aerospace medicine program in Houston where he came one step closer toward combining his interest in the space program and passion for medicine into one uncommon career.

What's Special About a NASA Doctor

Pattarini's involvement in NASA's program was unusual from the start. A medical student among seventeen first year residents who had already completed their studies, Pattarini looks to break from the typical medical path of going into private practice or working with a hospital. He was also one of few civilians pursuing a career in aerospace medicine, a specialty more common to military doctors.

According to Pattarini, the difference between doctors for NASA and other physicians is in how they approach medicine. "You spend all of medical school trying to learn how well people become ill and then learning how to make ill people become better," says Pattarini. "Aerospace medicine is about taking healthy people, putting them in extreme environments where bad things happen to them, and learning the effects that these extreme environments have on their bodies."

Program and Plans

While in Houston, Pattarini attended lectures by NASA officials and physicians already in the program, including top former NASA flight surgeon and medical expert Charles "Chuck" Berry. In addition to research and mingling with astronauts and NASA employees, Pattarini was also went through many of the training exercises used by astronauts in order to better understand the symptoms of conditions associated with space travel.

Come December, Pattarini hopes to secure his residency with NASA in Houston to further pursue aerospace medicine and start on a path that could lead him into space. Two of the nine astronauts from NASA's most recent class are doctors, both of whom previously completed the same program Pattarini just finished.

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40th Munchkin Convention Comes to Syracuse This Weekend

2009-07-28T19:58:00.003-04:00

Sara Sultanik

NCC News

The International Wizard of Oz Club's 40th Munchkin Convention comes to Syracuse this weekend to bring people together from all over the east coast who share one love: The Wizard of Oz. Around sixty club members are expected to be in attendance but the events are open to the public so anyone can attend.

Why Syracuse? Why Now?

The Syracuse area is rich with Wizard of Oz History. The author of The Wizard of Oz books, L. Frank Baum, spent much of his childhood in the Syracuse area so Syracuse seemed to be the logical place to hold the convention. But it the convention has not been held in Syracuse before. Convention Director and L. Frank Baum historian Kathleen Sorbello DiScenna says this is probably because no one, before her, has had to historical knowledge in the area to organize the event here.

It's All in a Name

Just because the name of the convention has the word "munchkin" in the title, it does not mean the convention is only about The Wizard of Oz munchkins. DiScenna says, in the map of Oz within L. Frank Baum's books, the Munchkin Land is to the east. Therefore the eastern United States convention is called the Munchkin convention. The western, northern, and southern conventions also have names corresponding with the Oz map.

Weekend Events

There are many weekend events during the convention. Various descendants of Wizard of Oz stars will be speaking at Landmark Theater. And even an actual munchkin from the movie, Margaret Pellegrini, will be honored during the convention. There will also be a showing of The Wizard of Oz to commemorate the film's seventieth anniversary. And there will also be a showing of The Wiz. Also, these stars will be featured during Salina's bicentennial parade on Saturday. And many more events.

Visit The Wizard of Oz Club Website for More Information.

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Bikers for Babies 2009

2009-07-28T19:50:00.003-04:00

Beth Long
NCC News

The 17th Annual Bikers for Babies charity event will hit the streets of Syracuse this Saturday. The event anticipates over 1,000 motorcyclists from all over Central New York, raising money for the March of Dimes.

Pat Campany, the Central New York Division Director of March of Dimes, all the money raised goes directly to Central New York. Infact, she says "for every dollar raised in Central New York, we have two dollars that come back from the March of Dimes."

The Bikers will ride from 10 different Central New York locations, beginning at 9am. And meet at Jamesville Beach State Park around 1pm for lunch and entertainment. Last years event raised $103,000, and Campany hopes that this years will bring in upwards of $125,000.

Central New York has the highest premature infant rate in the state of New York. Premature births are the leading cause of infant death. Bikers for Babies raises money to try and keep this rate down. Campany says that "the March of Dimes is all about making sure every baby has a healthy start. Too many babies in Central New York do not."

The money raised will go to local institutions researching leukemia and premature births.

Retaining Students During A Recession

2009-07-28T19:12:00.003-04:00

Christian Dotson-Pierson

NCC News

The recession is on everyone's mind these days. No matter where you turn, there's always news about the recent job loss numbers, no healthcare coverage and states facing budget deficits. Despite all the negative news about the recession, there is some good to report.

Freshman enrollment rate on target

Imagine being accepted to an institution, then having to reject the offer because of a financial bind. At Syracuse University, the financial aid office has worked harder than ever to make money available to ensure all admitted freshmen actually have the opportunity to attend. Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Scholarships and Student Aid at SU says the university has only raised tuition by 4.5 percent. This is its second lowest increase in school history, thus keeping it affordable for students and their families. Mrs. Copeland-Morgan also stated there has been an 11.3 percent increase in financial aid available to assist with offsetting the financial burden families may face.

Financial aid...in eighth grade?!

The financial aid office is a great resource to turn to when considering ways to pay for school. And no, you don't have to be a current student to find out the available options. In fact, Mrs. Copeland-Morgan suggests that kids as young as middle school age and their families begin to familiarize themselves with the financial aid process. She advises that going to a financial aid night as a high school sophomore, for example, gives you a huge advantage because your family has time to gather the necessary paperwork and take care of any financial mishaps that may prolong the financial aid process.

Words from the wise

If scholarships and grants are not enough money to cover school and living expenses, loans can help make up the difference. However, it is best to not borrow more than you can pay back. As Mrs. Copeland-Morgan puts it, "remember the ABC's of borrowing--Always Borrow Conservatively." Additionally, she reminds students they should not use educational loans to support a lifestyle, since the money is borrowed and will have to be repaid. This also ensures that unnecessary debt is avoided while one is in school.

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Learning Prevents Diabetes Prevention

2009-07-28T19:00:00.002-04:00

Elyssa Rosenbaum

NCC News

Learning to control what goes into your body is a huge part of keeping diabetes under control. Heather Hawkins, of Green Hills Supermarket in Syracuse says many people don't realize that what is on the front of the label may be just a marketing ploy and the only label that is regulated is the nutritional information on the back of the package. Hawkins says it is important for people with diabetes to learn that there are healthful alternatives and adds that people also need to learn to create a balanced plate at each meal time. Education can be a key element to keeping diabetes, and obesity related costs in check. Green Hills Supermarket is offering a series of classes to help people with diabetes learn to read to the labels on products in the store. Dietician Julita Klopocka-Niemic will be individually counseling participants to help them stick to the plans given to them by their doctors, and keep grocery shopping from being an overwhelming experience.

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E-Cycling Push

2009-07-28T17:57:00.002-04:00

Jason Lucas

NCC News

The City of Syracuse ‘s Public Works Department stopped picking up old electronics such as laptops and TV’s with their normal trash collection earlier this month. Last month the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency notified the City of Syracuse that it will charge the city a $30 disposal fee. OCRRA’s disposal fee began on July 6. In Monday’s Post Standard, Syracuse’s Public Works Department Commissioner Jeff Wright said the city cannot pick up the OCRRA’s disposal fee for Syracuse residents. OCRRA’s disposal fee for Syracuse resident includes old laptops, televisions, and computer monitors.

OCCRA's Emphasizes E-Cycling

OCCRA sees the disposal fee to the city as a way to get Syracuse residents ease into electronic recycling. "We're trying to encourage all county residents including the residents of the city of Syracuse to recycle,” remarked OCRRA spokesperson Kristen Lawton. Lawton added that it is better for the environment to recycle old electronics instead of throwing the away.

Local Ways To E-Cycle

Syracuse residents can take advantage of free electronic recycling until August 31 at OCRRA’s collection located at its Community Collection Center, 6085 Court Street Road. OCRRA will begin charging a $10 fee to dispose of old electronics on September 1. Best Buy also has an electronic recycling program where residents pay Best Buy $10 to dispose of their old electronics; in turn the residents receive a $10 Best Buy Gift card.

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No Cuts, So What?

2009-07-28T17:49:00.005-04:00

Kara Labs

NCC News

The stimulus package has been distributed to various businesses, programs and constructions sites all over the country. But where has it not gone? To the summer youth programs at the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department.
Kids vs. Employees
Even though the summer programs have not received any money from the stimulus package, they have not seemed to suffer. Director of the summer programs, Chris Abbot, says that he has not seen a drop in the amount of children enrolling in the programs. But they have also not taken on fewer employees.
Kids, Kids, Kids
The parks and recreation center serves many kids throughout the summer, a number that has gone relatively unchanged. Chris Abbot says, "We do serve thousands, some may come once, some may come every single day."
No cuts, So What?
The stimulus money has been distributed to many after school programs and summer school programs and has also trickled down to youth summer programs across the country. But the Syracuse youth summer programs don't seem to have suffered one bit.

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Inner City Kids Visit DC

2009-07-28T15:37:00.013-04:00

Tarryn Lael Simmons
NCC News

Children from Near Westside of Syracuse are taking the trip of their lives...

Mary Alice Smothers is like a mother to the thirty young people at the PEACE Incorporated Westside Family Resource Center. All the children lovingly call her "Miss Mary Alice". PEACE Inc. is located on the Near Westside of Syracuse - the ninth poorest neighborhood in the country. Smothers has taken a personal interest in fighting to make sure her kids get what they need.

As the head coordinator of PEACE Inc., Smothers says many of the African American and Latino families come to her for help. They sometimes have trouble paying the rent and have to decide whether to "eat or heat" because of $500+ National Grid bills caused by outdated furnaces and broken thermostats.

Smothers says the goal of PEACE Inc. is to provide "enrichment and socialization skills" to the children ranging from age 5 to 16. Instead of just going on tradition summer camp outings, PEACE Inc. has taken the kids to places like the WCNY television station to experience a newsroom and Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. But their exploration doesn't stop there...

Jeffry Mateo, a ten year old bilingual PEACE Inc. student, is one of ten children that will be traveling to Washington, DC from August 19-23. Smothers says the children "always read about it in their books but have never been able to see it...and this is the first time that any of them will ride a plane." She helped make this trip possible by gaining community sponsorships and organizing a black tie fundraising event. This is extraordinary because most of the PEACE Inc. children live under the poverty line and otherwise would not have the opportunity to travel to our nation's capitol. The children are ecstatic about the trip and are wishing on their luck stars that they will be able to catch a glimpse of their hero - President Barack Obama.

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Send All . . .to the scrapyard.

2009-07-28T00:55:00.007-04:00

Dontré L. Conerly

NCC News

Syracuse---As more and more of our daily communications goes digital, our traditional forms of communications have evolved to adapt. Payphones have given rise to cellphones; the formal handwritten letter has been replaced by the casual email, which we shoot at lightning speeds with the click of a button.

Blue letterboxes, which dot the country's landscape on city streets and roads, became an unmistakable sign of our postal service. A simple pull of the handle would allow you to drop a letter (up to 16 ounces) for post. The label detailed pick-up times, so you knew when it began its journey. We'd mail everything from those boxes: wedding invitations, graduation announcements, and even letters to Santa and the Easter Bunny.

But in the 21st century, we've started replacing "snail mail" with rapid communications, and we've begun to use the blue letterboxes less and less, so now the United States Postal Service has begun removing the boxes, collapsing and condensing the pick-up routes of mail to accommodate demand and foot traffic. Instead of a blue letter box on every corner in your neighborhood, one might serve six or seven blocks.

Maureen Marion, Public Affairs Specialist for the USPS, says this is more effective, as it allows for a change in infrastructure that is more concise and targeted. "As Americans approach their mailboxes differently, so too do we need to approach mail differently at the Postal Services," she says. That change has caused a decrease in the presence of the blue letterboxes. More than two-hundred sixty-thousand of the boxes have been removed and/or replaced with larger boxes that accommodate more mail, in high-traffic areas.

Interestingly enough, the blue letterboxes have undergone quite a few changes over the years. First used only in major cities, the blue boxes started off red. They were hung on posts in major cities--such as Chicago and New York. However, when a firefighter mistook one of the boxes as a fireman's dispatch (they were also red and set onto posts), the color changed. . .to green.

Following World War One, the military had a surplus of green paint, so they gave it to the Post Office, which painted their boxes. This continued for a while until an update made the boxes blue. Green boxes became "relay boxes," where a mailman put large packages for storage along the route while he delivered boxes, leaving the blue boxes for public use.

This latest update takes them off the street, but still leaves more than one-hundred seventy-nine thousand on the nation's corners, routes, and streets for use. That should make the wedding invitation you send that much more urgent, and that Thank You card all the more special.

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Golf Tournament Challenges Youth

2009-07-27T23:07:00.003-04:00

Joshua Sims
NCC News

Tee-Off
The first round of the Mayor’s Cup kicked off this morning at Sunnycrest Golf Course in Syracuse. Children ages 8 to 17 years old from around the county gathered to participant in this event for a chance at qualifying for the final round in August.

According to Syracuse Golf Director Joe Burns the first leg of the tournament is divided into two rounds, one taking place today and another at Burnet golf course on Thursday. He said the tournament is free for all residents of Onondaga County.

Competition
There was a healthy amount of competition at the event this year. Fifteen year-old Jamesville resident Austin Hyatt says he’s confident about his chances in the tournament. “I don’t think I’m the best one here, but I’m pretty good.”

For others like first time participant Stevi Freeman the goal was to do the best he could in the tournament.

Thirteen year old resident of Onondaga county Will Wallace came in second place last year overall and is back attempting to bring home the first place trophy this time. However even though it’s a competition he still says he wants to enjoy himself while he’s playing. “It’s just fun you know, you just get out on the course and its better than going to school or staying home watching TV.”

Salt City Games
The winners from the first two rounds will advance to the finals at the Salt City Games, an Olympic style event for the city of Syracuse taking place in August according to Burns.

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Staying Alive at 25

2009-07-27T22:42:00.008-04:00

Ashley Moss, NCC News

Teen drivers expecting to park on in their high schools' parking lots this school year may be required to do more than just paying for a parking permit. Reports show traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for young adults. With amost four thousand teen drivers dying each year in auto accidents, the Alive at 25 program provides a valuable experience. The Alive at 25 program teaches teens to drive safely.It is a four hour course taught twice a month and it uses videos and role playing.

Driving Instructor John Schaeffer that it's important for young drivers to adopt healthy driving habits: "It's an impact course to get students to feel the consequences of their actions, and better have that be the safety of a classroom than the hard lessons out in the real world."

Class is a Requirement not an Option

To combat the rates of teen crashes, some local high schools are requiring students to take the course before parking on school ground, even if they have already taken driver's education. Quieesha Burns of Henninger High School thinks that the class is a good idea but it shouldn't be required to park on campus.

Mission Accomplished

In order to be as effective as possible this program partners with several community organizations, including the National Safety Council, the Syracuse City School District and the Boys and Girls Club of Syracse. The program is already being implemented as a parking requirement at several schools, including Cicero-North Syracuse and Fayetteville-Manlius Senior High Schools. Branch's Driving School is the only driving school in the metro area that offers this course and is taught at several locations throughout the city.

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Life in a Van

2009-07-27T22:02:00.005-04:00

Lihuan Wang
NCC News

As the recession keeps on taking its toll, people are experimenting with ways to save costs. One SU graduate student decides to cut housing costs completely, by not having one. Chris Lantry of Binghantom, New York, has turned the back of his Chevy his new home.

A Last Minute Decision
After taking out a huge loan to pay his tuition, Lantry found himself short of cash to pay for rent. He thought about his van, in which he had stayed in while playing in his band. "I guess I just took the seats out, and my bed actually fits in there," Lantry said, "so I basically just thought about it, mapped it all out, figured out that I could do it, so I put my bed in there and set off the next day and that was it."

"My bathroom is every bathroom around here"
Lantry says he spends around 16 hours each day at school before returning to his van to sleep. Taking showers were made easy by the school gyms. "My bathroom is every bathroom around here and my shower is not really mine." Lantry says with a grin. With that said, he manages to cope with the inconvenience and lack of privacy.

The Ups and Downs
Lantry says he enjoys having a place so close to campus that he can arrive for school early. But the biggest problem he faced was dealing with the police. Once he was woken up by flashlights at four a.m. The Police officer asked for his identifications but didn’t ask him to leave. "One cop just said 'it’s not normal'."He says he would tuck his head down nowadays to avoid being spotted.

Stimulus Money Helps to Repair Roads in Onondaga County

2009-07-27T21:52:00.003-04:00

Max Cole

NCC News

More than 20 road repair projects in Onondaga County are scheduled to be funded with Federal Stimulus money. Highly prioritized projects include Bartell Road over I-81 in Cicero, and I-690, Teall Ave. to I-481 in Syracuse.

Good Timing

Mario Colone of the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (pictured right) says that "the infrastructure, it's fairly old. A lot of it is getting to the point where it needs to be replaced or something being done, and these projects are taking that step."

Increasing Safety

Colone says that many of the projects will use stimulus money to help increase safety on the roads. For Taft Road in Cicero, Colone says that "they're going to be providing a center turn lane, more so meant from a safety standpoint of allowing left turns on a particular stretch of road that is quite busy." According to Colone, the more than 20 road repair projects scheduled in Onondaga County will be completed within the next year.

A Joint Venture Brings Fresh Vegetables to Hungry Families

2009-07-27T21:28:00.007-04:00

Christine Pitawanich
NCC News

Something to Look Forward to for Needy Families

For the first time ever the Interreligious Food Consortium is teaming up with the Matthew 25 Farm in Tully to bring hungry families fresh vegetables. Tuesday, the IFC will be harvesting lettuce and green beans from the farm and distributing it to local, emergency food pantries in Onondaga County. The goal is to give needy families an opportunity to supplement canned goods with fresh produce.

Off to a Good Start

The program started at the beginning of this year when the owner of the farm, Jeff Rarick, felt that there was a need for fresh vegetables in food pantries. So far, he has grown lettuce, peas and green beans with plans to grow and harvest carrots, beets, tomatoes, corn, and cabbage throughout the summer season.

Though it’s a new program, it already seems promising. According to Michele Jordan, Executive Director of the IFC, the yield should be good on Tuesday. “It’s been raining this season, so the lettuce is coming in,” she said.

Working to Resolve Difficulties

But all the kinks haven’t been worked out yet. It may be difficult for some people to locate the pantries receiving fresh vegetables on a regular basis. “We’re not quite sure how much we have and we’re not quite sure how many of the pantries will be able to come pick up the produce at that time and how much they can handle” said Jordan.

Opportunities to Help

The IFC works with about 70 food pantries in Onondaga County and operates solely on donations. If you’re interested in volunteering contact the IFC at 315-474-8855. Or if you want to volunteer your time on the farm, visit www.matthew25farm.org for more information.

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Real Food, Real Money, Real Impact

2009-07-27T21:23:00.005-04:00

Rachel Silver

NCC News

-Syracuse-- Local food co-op Syracuse Real Food simultaneously supports and gives back to the community through its effort to improve the quality of food consumed by its clientele. Because of its knowledgeable staff and green attitude, Real Food was recently features in Mutual of Omaha's Aha Moment Tour as an example of a business with a positive, life-changing message and mission.

Give and Take

A cooperative, or co-op, is a business or organization owned by many individuals who make decisions through voting and the democratic method. This essentially means that co-ops, unlike other businesses, belong to the people that run it rather than a single corporation or set of board members and all of the member-owners have an equal say in the bylaws that govern the co-op. Real Food, for example, has over 2,500 member-owners who, despite their varied participation, all have a say in how the co-op operates. To Real Food's Amanda Gormley, a co-op belongs to the community that it serves.

Real Food also demonstrates the importance of community in the co-op structure through the natural, whole and organic foods included in its market. Rather than importing food from large-scale producers, Real Food uses local farmers for their supplies. By supporting Central New York farms, Real Food is able to identify not only who grows their food but they also can speak to the condition and quality in which the food was harvested.

The Rise of Cooperatives

Like many co-ops, in the United States, Real Food has seen an improvement in business as result of the economic downturn. According to Gormley, customers want to keep their money within the local economy rather than in the pocket of a large, faceless chain storm. Because Real Food is so heavily connected to the community through its growers and employees, the majority of the profits stay within Syracuse and Central New York.

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Health Center: SU Students May Never Get Swine Flu Vaccine on Campus

2009-07-27T21:15:00.005-04:00

Last week the FDA reported that 160 million doses of a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu, may be made available to the public by October.

That timeline makes the vaccine available a month after children go back to classes nationwide and college students move into the close and potentially virus-friendly quarters of their dormitories.

Flu on Campus

Kathleen VanVechten, Director of Nursing for Syracuse University Health Services says students at SU might not be able to get the vaccine on campus at all -- even if it's made widely available.

"We have no information about having that available," she said, "and I do not believe it's going to be available in the fall."

Show Me the Money.

VanVechten said the tough economy and university-wide budget cuts mean SU Health Services has to use the money it does have to treat ill students.

VanVechten also said while there is no money to dedicate to community outreach and education, students are rarely responsive to those programs.

Log On to Stay Healthy

As a result, the Health Center does almost all of its student-awareness on its Web site.

Students can get information updates from the Centers for Disease Control on the Health Center's Web site at http://students.syr.edu/health

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Cash For Clunkers... Begins Today

2009-07-27T21:11:00.005-04:00

Beth Long
NCC News

Today was the first day of Cash for Clunkers, a government rebate program to get gas guzzlers off the street.

The program offers up to $4,500 in rebates when you bring your "clunker" in for demolition. It won't last forever though, the government allotted 1 billion in stimulus money. Enough for 250,000 cars from 200,000 American car dealerships.

Joe Mooney, the Sales Manager at Lowery Brothers Chrysler Jeep in Syracuse, NY doesn't think the offer will last long. "I don't know if it will last a month, the program is supposed to go until November 1st, but I don't think the money is going to last until November 1st," said Mooney.

To qualify for the deal, your "clunker" must get less than 18mpg and be 1984 model or newer. The standards to qualify are stringent, Mooney says, but "the deal is pretty amazing when you do qualify."

AARP Driver's Defense Course

2009-07-27T20:18:00.003-04:00

Sara Sultanik NCC News

40 area residents, aged fifty and older, filled the North Syracuse Community Center this morning for a defensive driving class from 9:00am until 3:00pm. The course is sponsored by AARP.

Why Have the Class?

The class is designed as a refresher course for residents who have been driving for a very long time. The course instructor, Skip Hilleboe, says the two most significant reasons for elders to get into accidents are improper left turns and trouble within intersections. He also says,women outlive their driving skill by sixteen years and men outlive their driving skill by ten years. The class teaches about awareness strategies and traffic laws.

Older Drivers = Bad Drivers?

The CDC reported in 2006, that there were more than 175,000 drivers age sixty-five and older injured in motor vehicle crashes. But does this mean they are bad drivers? Skip Hilleboe says, no. He claims many older drivers are very good drivers because they are cautious and drive slow. But as they get older, their vision and reflexes can diminish making it harder to drive. Al Roger, a student in the class says, "...there's bad young drivers, there's good young drivers. It's the same for older people. They have to...recognize when their capabilities of driving are being depleted...or lowering...they should adjust their driving skills accordingly like driving during the day instead of night."

Incentive to Sign Up

Many people just signed up for the course because students receive a ten percent insurance reduction just for taking the course. But many of the students agree the benefits from the driver's training are just as important as the insurance reduction. But regardless of the reduction, the class can only be taken every three years.

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Graduate School Enrollment In A Recession

2009-07-27T20:14:00.008-04:00

Christian Dotson-Pierson

NCC News

Thanks to the recession, many people now find themselves out of work, and sometimes out of luck. Everyday has become a struggle to pay the bills that continue to rise, seemingly with no end in sight. Despite the failing banks, closed businesses, and foreclosed homes, one institution has yet to fail--school.

Why graduate school?

Graduate school offers, for many, the chance to gain or enhance skills as a way to advance within a career. In a recession, learning these skills becomes even more critical since the job market has fewer opportunities. Earning an advanced degree will enable one to set himself apart from his peers, thus making him a valuable asset to a potential employer.

Is graduate school for me?

While graduate school may open doors and lead to connections, it is not the solution for everyone. S-U Whitman School of Management associate professor Patrick J. Cihon suggests those who currently have a job and may want to pursue a graduate degree should think twice. Cihon says, "...the idea of giving up the job and spending two years to get a graduate degree may not really be worth it in terms of the difference that you get on coming out on the other end." Therefore, earning a graduate degree should be pursued if one believes his current job may not prepare him for the future.

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Alternative Advertising

2009-07-27T20:01:00.005-04:00

Elyssa Rosenbaum

NCC News

Time Consuming?

Most people dismiss Facebook, text messaging, and other forms of social networking largely as a waste of time. For one business owner in Manlius, that networking enabled her to stay in business.

“We’re Going to Have to Shut the Doors”

When Jen Cohen, owner of Thanks-A-Latte café in Manlius, informed her teenage staff she would be closing the doors for good in the middle of June, they came back with a plan. The staff worked their magic on Facebook, Twitter, and through text messaging to bring customers in to the café. They would send messages like, “hey, come meet me at Thanks-A-Latte, or come check out this new drink flavor” said Cohen.

“Facebook and Twitter Saved the Store”

Cohen said the networking campaign saved her business, and now she says she’s working on getting more involved in it herself, instead of leaving it to her employees. She added she is starting to Twitter, sending out messages like, “I just took cookies out of the oven, and they smell amazing”.

It’s a Real Return

For both Cohen, and Erin Meharg, owner of Dragonfly Beads in Manlius, when they send out messages through either Twitter or Facebook, they see an instant return. Both women said that within 24 hours, they will have customers come into the store saying they heard about a special, or the store itself from a message posted on a social networking site.

Getting off the Ground

Meharg says that starting her blog helped get her business off the ground. “I’ve actually had people come into the store and say they found out about the store from my blogspot, or that they typed in ‘beads’ and I came up, which was really cool and completely unexpected.”

Expanding Their Usage

Both Cohen and Meharg plan to use the media more, setting up fan pages on Facebook, and gathering larger followings on Twitter. They also both say that although they do advertise in local newspapers, they enjoy the immediate feedback they get from social networking.

At first, Thanks-A-Latte advertised only through an E-mail listserv, now they use many types of social networking

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A Foot in the Door

2009-07-27T19:59:00.005-04:00

Jeff Whiting - Director of Open Jar Institute

Kara Labs

NCC News

For five years now the Open Jar Institute has come to the Syracuse area to give young professionals some tips and tricks for getting an "in" on Broadway. So what is the benefit to these young Central New York students?
Getting an "In"
Nearly forty students from the Syracuse area participated in audition workshops on Monday. The workshops focused on dancing, singing and acting. They worked on marketing those skills in a mock Broadway audition setting. Students got some tips and tricks about the audition process which is a valuable tool and may give them the edge in an audition.
Open Jar Institute
Jeff Whiting, artistic director of the Institute, says that this is a great opportunity for students in CNY to practice their skills. "The most important thing is for them is to develop a sense of who they are. When you get to New York there are thousands and thousands of actors," commented Whiting. They need to be unique in order to stand out in an audition.
Unique Opportunity
Students at the workshop worked one-on-one with professionals who are currently in the field. They can see what is going on in the field of theatre at the moment, which gives them another "in" to the world of Broadway.

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Parents Getting Help to Help Their Kids

2009-07-27T19:47:00.004-04:00

Jason Lucas

NCC News

The Parent Success Initiative was originally started in 1999, but ended after four years. The New York Office of Temporary Disability Assistance targeted the Parent Success Initiative as one of its five pilot programs in its fatherhood initiative in 2006. The Parent Success Initiative supports low income non-custodial parents as they attempt to pay their child support by offering services such as legal services, job training, and child support case management. Before a participant can take advantage of the program's services, a Parent Success Initiative participant must complete a mandatory parenting course and a life skills course.

Millions In Child Support Paid

Parent Success Initiative participants are referred to the program by other program members or mandated to participate by Onondaga County Courts. Most of the parents involved with the program are males 16 to 44 with low incomes. From November 2006 to May 2009, 520 Onondaga County residents have participated in the Parent Success Initiative and Wescott Community Center Executive Director Steve Susman estimated that the program participants have paid $3,000,000 in child support.

Funding Gap

The New York OTDA’s funding will stop on September 30, 2009. “It looks like there may be a gap, now in between the state's funding of the current program and any funding we might get for a new program, explained Susman. Susman said that he expects the Parent Success Initiative to receive funding from the state by February 2010.

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Art at Work

2009-07-27T17:06:00.009-04:00

Tarryn Lael Simmons
NCC News

Isaac is doing way more than flipping hamburgers this summer.

During these tough economic times, high school teenagers around the country are finding it hard to land summer gigs. ArtWorks is a summer work program designed to employ talented youth in the city of Syracuse and give them an opportunity to further cultivate their artistic skills. Isaac Hamilton is a 16 year old high school senior (he's a pretty smart guy) and one of the seven program participants. I sat down with Isaac to get the inside scoop on this future performing artist...

Isaac is an aspiring rapper-actor-dancer with an international flair. He says his work has a multi-cultural influence and universal appeal. Australia, Africa, and Czech Slovakia are just a few of the places he hopes to travel to in the future to spread his message worldwide. Isaac is quite the ambitious and confident teenager and seems wise beyond his years. He noted that ArtWorks has given him a "new perspective on art" and taught him the dedication and perseverance required to go from being a starving artist to a success one.

ArtWorks prepares the students for higher education and Isaac says he plans to attend performing arts college after graduating from high school. During the summer, the students are required to interview professional artists that come to speak. This helps to cultivate their professional development skills and gives them a chance to network with individuals in the arts.

Isaac is not worried about being stereotyped as "just another black male rapper"... He looked me straight in the eye and said, "Just watch me...when you hear me on the radio and I'm making more money than you and I'm doing this better than you, just watch me...I have a better message than any other rapper out here...just watch me, I got something...if you want a stereotype just put my music in...just listen."

This young musical talent is internally motivated and is thinking proactively. He says ArtWorks has given him a "new outlook on art and the many opportunities that are out there". Isaac was having trouble finding a summer job before ArtWorks recruited him, but says if it wasn't for ArtWorks he would just be sitting at home working on his craft. He says ArtWorks is "not just a job" but something "interesting and new".

Isaac is a driven young man who has a backup plan; he will go into marketing if music "doesn't work out". He understands that "you can't really do a lot of things without an education" and is committed to obtaining his college degree. For now he is making his art work for him in Syracuse as he plans to spread his music worldwide.

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Nicoletti Preaches Change

2009-07-22T22:40:00.004-04:00

Max Cole

NCC News

Joe Nicoletti, Democratic candidate for Syracuse mayor, announced his new local government restoration and modernization plan today at Syracuse University. A major theme among the reforms he proposed was change.

Embracing Diversity

Nicoletti said that Syracuse "will never be a great city unless we open up the doors of this community to every citizen" and that he is "defying those that want to do business as usual."

Going Green

A number of environmental reforms are part of Nicoletti's new plan, including a program that would move bus routes off of the main streets of Syracuse in order to improve air quality.

Primary Looming

Nicoletti received the second highest number of votes for the Democratic party designation. He will challenge the party designee, Syracuse Common Councilor-at large Stephanie Miner in the city primary on September 15th. For more on Joe Nicoletti and his campaign, click here.