Here's The Title of Your Story

Here's where you type your story text.
By: Your Name Goes Here

170 West Brighton Follow-Up

The building at West Brighton is still standing despite a meeting last week to discuss its destruction. However, the area has gotten safer according to Cannon Street community center director Denise Moore. There has been no crime in the building since the meeting, according to Moore. The meeting is not responsible for the change, said Moore. She attributes the change to people wanting the area to change for the better. The positive influence of the center has rubbed off on the neighborhood, said Moore.

170 West Brighton

2 Billions Dollar Construction Project

Syracuse Common Councilor Van Robinson is the man leading the effort to tear down interstate 81. Robinson said the entire construction process will cost around two billion dollars. He says that the federal government will pay for 80 percent of the project and the state will pay for 20. "No in fact the department of transportation says they can not give you a dollar figure until they know exactly what they're doing. They don't want to commit themselves," said Robinson when asked about an exact price.
Nineteen companies have given bids to run a study on the effects of removing I-81. The council will be accepting proposals until August fifth. Once a proposal is chosen the study could take around two years to finish. Robinson says he hopes to have I-81 gone by 2015. Robinson expects the removal of the highway would bring a big economic boost to the city of Syracuse.

Robinson Says "Progress" On Interstate Reconstruction

The man leading the charge to demolish and reconfigure Interstate 81 in Syracuse says progress is being made. Proposals studying the effects of removing the highway have started coming in, said Common Counclior-at-Large Van Robinson. The city sent out requests for proposals from over 100 companies and have already received 19 back, according to Robinson. Robinson has long been involved in the effort to destroy I-81. The highway is very unsafe according to Robinson. "I've heard from so many experts who've said they're amazed that we have not had many fatalities [on] the highway," said Robinson. However, the actual removal and reconstruction of I-81 is still years away.

Remove Or Rebuild I-81

Councilor Van Robinson held a news conference on the potential removal of Interstate 81. The Metropolitan Transit Council has issued requests for proposals to state and national companies, and so far nineteen proposals have been returned. Proposals must be submitted by August 5Th, but the highway is not expected to be torn down anytime soon.

"This highway is at the end of its life expectancy, Robinson says, "and if nothing is done, the highway is just going to fall down on its own." http://www.syracuse.ny.us/ccatlarge1.asp

Safety is Robinson's number one concern. He says officials have reported that chunks of cement have fallen off Interstate 81, yet its removal is not expected until 2015. Robinson is surprised that more fatalities have not occurred on the highway.

I-81 Removal Project

At a news conference on Wednesday, Councilor-at-Large Van Robinson announced that he has made progress on his I-81 removal plan. Proposals to study the project have been sent out to 100 consulting companies, and 19 have already been returned.

Robinson, who has dubbed the interstate as Syracuse's "Berlin Wall", said the city has been separated between it's East and West sides.

"No where is it more apparent than when you are on the University campus looking down, seeing how the highway has totally divided the city from East to West," Robinson stated.

Robinson's proposed I-81 removal project will reroute the highway around the city. The removal will reunite the city and stimulate Syracuse's economy.

"By having it come down, you improve the property values around the I-81 corridor," he said.

The reconstruction plan will also encourage the use of mass transportation, relieve traffic congestion and help the Emerald City better control it's pollution. The use of public transportation has increased by 30 percent, and Robinson expects this number to multiply pending the approval of the project.

The company proposals are due by August 5th. One company will then be selected to study the proposed project. Robinson says I-81 does not meet safety standards and will need improvements soon. If the project is approved, the rerouting plan is expected to be completed by 2015.

For resident reactions and comments about the proposed removal, click here.

Proposals for I-81 Coming In

At a news conference, Councilor Van Robinson said 19 bids have come into the Syracuse Metro Transit Council to be part of the study that would give insight into the Interstate-81 project. The study will help give feedback to the Council on how the removal of I-81 will impact the community and what other alternatives would be available.

"The road has come to the end of its life expectancy, if we do nothing it will fall down on its own," says Robinson. "We have no other alternatives."

Robinson says he has the support of his colleague's even though others have concerns. Those concerns will be addressed in the study. Robinson will stop taking bids on August 5th and it will take thirty to sixty days for any decision to be made. If the removal of I-81 is approved, it will not start for a couple of years.

No More I-81

The Common Councilor Van Robinson held a news conference today at Syracuse University to announce that progress is being made towards removing Interstate 81. Robinson says the proposals have gone out to over one hundred companies who are willing to submit a bid to the Syracuse Metro Transit Council. The bid is for studying the possibilities of removing I-81. So far, nineteen companies have responded to his proposal. The bidding closes August 5^th and the common council will pick a company within thirty to sixty days. In about 2 years they will sign a contract with the company. Robinson says that tearing down the highway is a good idea for the area. “It’s very apparent that if it comes down one this you will do is slow traffic 2 by having it come down it will improve the property values around the I-81 corridors.” If the project is approved in 2015 there could be no more I-81.

Interstate 81 and Public Transportation

Syracuse Common Councilor Van Robinson is leading the attempt to remove interstate 81. During a news conference at Syracuse University he said a report out today, cited a significant increase in public transportation use. Robinson said the removal of interstate 81 will get even more people to use the bus. Robinson called Syracuse the “Emerald City,” in regards to the city’s efforts to conserve energy. He believes rerouting 81 will help Syracuse become this emerald city, by removing pollutants from the center of the city. He gave a specific increase he would like to see in transportation, should the city follow through with the removal of 81. Robinson said "Rider-ship has increased by thirty percent. If we could increase that by another fifty percent it would handle a lot of our issues as far as energy is concerned."

Robinson said another benefit to doing away with this section of the interstate, is that it will add to the economy. He used San Francisco as an example of a city that removed a major freeway. "It had an economic return in the millions of dollars," Robinson said. The city has received 19 proposals back from companies who want to assist the city in evaluating the benefits of removing the interstate. The deadline is August 5th for proposals.

Here is an article on how locals feel about the current public transportation system. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf?/base/news-4/121611210331890.xml&coll=1

Interstate-81 Causing Concerns with Citizens

Common Council at-Large, Van Robinson, announced that progress has been made on the plan to remove and rerout Interstate-81 during a news conference at Syracuse University today. Robinson said proposals were sent out to businesses about the plan to remove and reroute Interstate-81. Nineteen companies have already replied to the proposal.

Robinson said the removal is necessary because the highway has become a safety issue.

"This highway is at the end of its life expectancy," Robinson said. "If nothing is done, we can just sit back because the highway is going to fall down on its own."

Despite the necessity of the removal of I-81, the people of Syracuse have some concerns as to the extent of their ability to commute from one place to another, Robinson said.

"How do I get to work? Secondly, are you going to increase my commute time? How about emergencies? Will emergency vehicles be able to get me to the hospital in a timely way?" Robinson said.

These problems were going to have to be dealt with, however, actual work on the I-81 will not begin for another two years.

For more information, visit the Rethinking I-81 website.

“Progress” on 81 Tear Down Plan

At a news conference on Wednesday, Common Councilor-at-Large Van Robinson announced there has been progress in his plan to tear down a section of Interstate 81. Robinson says 19 engineering and consulting firms have already bid to run a study on what to do about 81. He says something needs to be done urgently. “This highway is at the end of its life expectancy,” he says, “so we have no alternatives”. Robinson says there is no official quote for how much his willed project will cost. But he estimates it will be around $2 billion. But no matter what the cost, Robinson says the federal government will pay for 80 percent and the state, the remaining 20. But who will foot the bill seems like an issue that won’t need to be dealt with for quite some time. Companies have until August 5th to submit their bid proposals, and once one is chosen 30-60 days after that, it could take up to 2 years until they determine if the project is even feasible.

Van Robinson says I-81 is Dangerous

A news conference with Common Councilor-at-Large Van Robinson at Syracuse University announced the latest information regarding the renovation and/or removal of Interstate-81.
"Requests for proposals have gone out to over 100 companies asking them to submit to the syracuse metropolitan council a bid for the commencement of a study group to study the effects of removing i-81 and its impact on the syracuse-metropolitan region," Robinson said. 19 companies have already responded to Robinson's proposal.

Robinson says tearing down I-81 is something that needs to happen. "This highway is at the end of it's life expectancy. if nothing is done, we can just sit back, because the highway is going to fall down on its own." Robinson also says there's no time to waste as "large chunks of concrete are already falling off of 81." The project needs to happen because the highway is no longer safe.

The good news about the proposed project is: local tax payers will not have to pay for the project. Robinson says the federal government will fund "80 percent of the costs for removal; the state will pick up the other percent."

For more information on Councilor Robinson, visit: Van Robinson

To view a short article and responses to the I-81 debate, visit: Rethinking 81

Looking for a Plan for I-81 in Syracuse

The Syracuse Common Council sent requests for proposals to more than 100 companies to assess what to do with Interstate 81 that runs through the city. Common Councilor-at-Large Van Robinson spoke at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at SU today. He said companies are proposing to run a study on what to do with the highway, whether it's reconstructing or removing it.

Robinson says something has to be done with I-81. "This highway is at the end of its life expectancy. If nothing is done, we can just sit back because the highway is going to fall down on its own" he said.

Robinson says state senators Chuck Schumer and Hilary Clinton, city leaders and business people have accepted the idea of removing the part of I-81. The city is now looking for feedback on the project from the general public. People have already expressed concerns about increased commute times and getting to work and Robinson says these issues will be addressed in the study.

Nineteen engineering and consulting firms already have bid to run the study and gather information from people who live in the Syracuse area. Bids will be accepted until August 5th.

Robinson says the study could take one to two years and he wants I-81 through Syracuse to be removed by 2015.

A Mission to Tear Down I-81

A part of Interstate 81 could be missing by 2015 if Common Councilor-at large Van Robinson finally gets his way. At a news conference today at S-U, Robinson told student reporters that his idea is still making progress even after pushing the plan for more than five years.

Robinson says 19 companies sent in bids to the city to study how tearing down a part of 81 will effect the area. Robinson says it will be at least another two months before the city picks a company to do the study, which will give a better idea of people think about his plan.

"What they're attempting to do is explore the attitudes of the people who live in the area," Robinson says.

Robinson says companies have until August 5th to put in a bid to run the study. But Robinson says it could take up to two years before the study is finished.

Several big cities have also replaced elevated highways with boulevards, such as New York City, Portland and San Fransisco. Robinson says he wants to tear out the section of Interstate 81 that spans over the center of Syracuse and replace it with a boulevard that runs from the Route 481/Interstate 81 South intersection up to the Carousel Mall.

I-81 Closer to Destruction

Syracuse Common Councilor-at-Large Van Robinson wants the section of I-81 through the center of Syracuse gone by 2015, and he is nudging ever so slightly to his goal. Proposals are now being accepted for companies to propose what to do with the run-down sections of raised highway. Robinson has been pushing the issue since 2001, and has gained the support of his fellow council members, who once opposed the idea. The highway was built in the 1960's, and shows definite signs of wear.

"This highway is at the end of its lifespan," Robinson said. "If nothing is done, we can just sit back because this highway's gonna fall down on its own."

Robinson compared the removal of I-81 to such cities as San Francisco and Milwaukee. He said these cities each removed old highways and experienced positive results in the surrounding communites. Proposals will accepted by the council until August 4th. It will then take two years to finalize a decision on what approach to take. There is no word on when any actual construction will begin on the highway.

Robinson Endorses Plan to Destruct I-81

Syracuse Common Counsilor-at-Large Van Robinson endorsed his plan to destruct the portion of I-81 that goes through Syracuse. Robinson spoke in the S.I. Newhouse II Building on Wednesday morning to a group of graduate students. Robinson says that proposals have recently been sent to over 100 companies vying to place a bid to the Syracuse Metropolitan Transit Council. According to Robinson, 19 companies have actually placed bids to make the proposal. Robinson outlined some of the advantages that the destruction of I-81 would have on the Syracuse community.

"One thing you will do, you will slow traffic. By having it [I-81] come down, you improve the property values around the I-81 corridor," said Robinson.

Robinson also said that slower traffic will lead to fewer accidents and that the rise in property values would help the Syracuse economy. The deadline for companies to submit their proposals is August 5th and Robinson admitted that it would take at least two years to approve a final proposal. Robinson's goal is to have Interstate 81 torn down in Syracuse by 2015.

Steps Toward Removal of I-81 In Motion

Photo by parsnip_lee

Common Council Majority Leader, Van Robinson, described the major benefits a removal of I-81 would bring to Syracuse during a news conference. Van Robinson says removing I-81 from dividing Syracuse would mean major positive changes to the city's economy and that the change would mirror the benefits San Francisco saw after removing a freeway going through that city. "It had an economic return to the city of San Francisco in the millions of dollars through economic development, residential housing and also, believe it or not, it improved traffic flow." Robinson said.

The declining condition of I-81 means Robinson wants the project to progress quickly. Saying proposals were sent requesting bids for a study detailing the benefits that the removal of I-81 would have on the city. "We have already received about 19 proposals back from some of the major corporations in the state as well as in the country," Robinson said. He considers these 19 bids proof that progress has been made towards 81's removal within the next eight years.

For more information visit: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080515/a_highways15.art.htm

I-81 Project Accepting Proposals

The Syracuse Metropolitan Transit Council has put out a proposal to over 100 companies nationwide in a search for a study group to examine the effects of tearing down I-81 through Syracuse. Common Councilor Van Robinson held a news conference today at Syracuse University and said that 19 engineering and consulting companies had already submitted bids. The deadline for all proposals is August 5th. The study would take up two years of a plan by Robinson to have I-81 removed by 2015.

"The highway is at the end of its life expectancy," says Robinson. "If nothing is done, we can just sit back because the highway's going to fall down on its own."

Robinson also says that if the highway through the city is not torn down, it would require a costly repair in the near future. He believes that safety and the economy will benefit the most by the removal of the highway.

"It's amazing-- I've heard from so many experts who've said they're amazed that we have not had many fatalities on that highway."

Syracuse is the only city along I-81 that has the highway run through its downtown.

Meals on Wheels

High gas prices are even affecting non-profit organizations such as Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels rely on volunteers to prepare meals and deliver them to senior citizens homes. “Well with gas prices are concerned we have had to cut back and both double up on meals going to outlining areas which is Jordan-Elbridge, LaFayette and Tully. So instead of delivering 5 days a week, we deliver there 3 times a week and we just double up on the meals so that is a different kind of challenge but we hope that it is not affecting the service that we are giving to the clients by this,” says Edward Brown Director of Volunteer Services for Meals on Wheels. Edward also noticed that volunteers may only volunteer one day a week or a couple a days a month.

Some volunteers still participate regularly but, have come up with their own ways to save gas. “We are a little more careful on how we do our route, we try to not to go to far out of the way to get to one place to the next or we might not leave the car running while we go in and serve so we don’t waste gas that way,” says Nancy Knowlton a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Meals on Wheels serve senior citizens Monday through Friday.

http://www.meals.org/

Housing Visions Help Low-Income Families

Housing Visions is a non-profit organization that builds homes in neglected communities to help low-income families. They have built homes in Syracuse, Owsego, and Auburn. Right now, Syracuse has 214 units and will have 264 when the Maple Heights project is complete in 2009.

"Maple Heights will provide 50 units for Syracuse and 12 of those units will house homeless veterans," says Tina Caldwell, Senior Manager of Housing Visions. "The site is located on the 1600th Hundred Block of East Genesee Street and many people are excited for its opening."

Maple Heights is being built over a lot that was mainly used as a drug haven. Caldwell says their main goal is to help provide safe housing for those who can't afford it and try to turn around run down neighborhoods.

Allergies in Syracuse

Pollen levels have been low this summer, but people who have allergies are still experiencing symptoms. Why is this? Allergens can travel long distances. "You don't have to HAVE the type of tree you're allergic to," says Doctor Lawrence Krieger, an allergy specialist from Community General Hospital. "It could be 200 miles away and the pollen will be air-born, and you can be exposed to that at, at a great distance. It doesn't have to be right in your vicinity."

What are allergies? Doctor Krieger says, "Allergies are essentially an over-zealous reaction of our immune system to something we're exposed to, so the causes of that are an exposure to something that you're sensitized to." In Syracuse the three main irritants are: grass pollen, tree pollen, and rag-weed.

However, there are ways to keep yourself from suffering too much. Along with taking proper allergy medication, staying inside is one way to minimize systems. "If the windows are closed, and you have any kind of air-conditioner, you'll reduce your pollens," Doctor Krieger says. "You don't need any special air-filtration systems necessariyl to reduce pollen exposure in the house."

For more information on pollen levels, check :Pollen Levels, Pollen Count, and Pollen Cast

For more information on allergies, check: National Allergy Bureau, Allergies Overview, and Control Your Symptoms

Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak

So far, one person is dead and ten others have been infeted with the Legionnaire's Disease in the Onondaga Hill area.

Community General Hospital was already disinfecting its two cooling towers, long before the water samples taken tested positive for Legionella bacteria.

Richard Woltman, Service Manager at Water Treatment Services says that there is no guaranteeing that all bacteria can be eliminated from a cooling tower, regular bromine treatment minimizes the levels and effects of bacteria.

"You keep a low dose leves of of these bromine in the cooling towers and then weekly or bi-weekly or once a month add a secondary product to kill off resistant strains of bacteria," says Woltman.

No new cases have been reported since Community General disinfected its two colling towers.

For more information on Legionnaire's Disease, please visit the Onondaga County Health department site on http://www.ongov.net/

"The Express" premiere promises to be unlike any other

(Photo: www.suathletics.com/.../7/ErnieDavis146web.jpg)

Ernie Davis

A new movie about SU football legend Ernie Davis, called "The Express" is making history in Syracuse, by having the first world premiere for a major movie in Syracuse's history. The movie focuses on the journey that Davis, who is known not only for his ability on the field, but for the obstacles that he overcame en route to becoming the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, which he did in 1961.

The world premiere is in September and will be held at the Landmark Theater and will be "unlike any party these people have ever seen," Roger Springfield, the athetic administrator said.

"Our red carpet is going to be an orange carpet. It's going to be the old-style Hollywood with bleachers, and a big screen, a stage and a band playing music from that era," Springfield said.

Springfield was the main contact between the university and the film's producers, and before they can enjoy the premiere they have much more work to do. According to Springfield, SU still needs to selll sponsorships, corporate packages and tickets.

Syracuse is looking to make this a very grand affair by asking famous SU graduates such as Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Bob Costas, Vanessa Williams and Ted Koppel to attend the event.

The world premiere is on September 12 and is open to the public. The tickets are going for $1000 apiece and Springfield says it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. For more information, go to the official website of The Express.

Wegmans Keeps Shoppers Updated

The recent Salmonella outbreak still has grocery shoppers concerned about their produce, but one local supermarket is taking steps to reassure their shoppers. The Dewitt Wegmans has put up signs in their produce department to update shoppers about the recent Salmonella outbreak. Each sign informs customers to avoid buying raw produce that is not from FDA approved production areas. Wegmans guarantees that their fresh produce is grown in FDA approved production areas, limiting the risk of spreading the bacterial infection further.

The signs are located above tomato and pepper stands. Shoppers have noticed the new signs and appreciate the extra information.

"Its good to know all of the produce, all of the tomatoes, are coming from an approved, safe location," said shopper John Greco.

Greco also said that posting the signs was a good move on Wegmans' part because customers feel as though Wegmans is watching out for them. "Its a very good business practice, letting people know what's going on and how they're trying to help the situation."

The signs are posted in all Wegmans Produce Departments. The signs inform customers about high risk populations, ways to protect against the spread of Salmonella, and assures shoppers their produce is from FDA approved distribution areas.

To view the Wegmans' Salmonella signs press release, click here.

For more information about Wegmans, visit www.wegmans.com.

Syracuse Teachers Without A Contract

Syracuse City school district teachers are working without a contract, and it could be some time before that changes. The previous one-year deal expired on June 30th. It marks the third time in five years that the Syracuse teachers have had no contract.

"It's not good for morale," Syracuse Teachers Association President Kate McKenna says. "When our working conditions are bad, it does rub off in the classroom no matter how professional you are. We've had kids ask teachers-- they've seen the newspaper and they've seen us on television-- 'how come you don't have a contract?' or 'what's a contract?.'"

New York state law makes public employees work without a contract, but that does not stop teachers from picketing school board meetings. That happened in 2003 when Syracuse teachers went 18 months before agreeing to a new contract.

"The longer the district can stall, the longer they can keep the money that should be going to us," says McKenna.

Mike Sorrell, the Director of Staff Relations for the school district, says that the teachers do not suffer without a contract. They still receive pay, and once a new agreement is reached it is made retroactive to the expiration of the old contract.

McKenna says the district is asking teachers to work longer days and longer school years, but not offering an increase pay to make up for the difference. Teacher and school district officials will meet on July 17th to continue negotiations.

Food Donations Down, Money Donations Up for Food Bank of CNY

The Food Bank of Central New York is losing food donations because of the current economic situation, but the organization is still able to handle the community’s demands thanks to generous financial donors. The Director of Development and Marketing for the organization, Katharine Loomis, says that about one third of the Food Bank's donations are food. She says manufacturers that once donated mislabeled and damaged food are now selling these goods at a discounted price to dollar stores and other discount places. She says these stores are now selling discounted food to people who are having trouble buying regularly priced items at traditional grocery stores. Because manufacturers are also having a tough time financially, it’s a good way for them to make some extra money. “Rather than donate it to a food bank then they would prefer to sell it,” Loomis says, “even if it’s at a reduced cost.” Loomis adds that the Food Bank is seeing a lot of new faces in its hunger relief centers. She says that while food donations are down, financial donations are up, which are helping to balance out the costs for the increase in people at the hunger relief locations. Loomis says that in times of crisis, people want to help out their neighbors. “One of the things that we are seeing is that we have very generous donors,” she says, “people know that there is a stronger need now for hunger relief in this community than there ever has been before…we’ve seen an increase in donations this year but its kept up with what our costs have increased to”.

Tips To Cut Heating Cost

Local heating companies are advising people to start saving their pennies because Syracuse is going to see steep jump in the cost of heating oil this winter. An explosion in oil prices may put home owners over the barrel because high gas prices have turned up the cost of residential heating. Natural gas is up fifteen percent and propane and fuel are up about sixty percent.

Ellis Guiles, Director of Sales at TAG Mechanical http://www.tagmechanical.com/ on the north side of Syracuse recommends people maintain yearly maintenance for their furnaces and install thermostats that will automatically adjust temperatures.

“Every one degree change in temperature during the night will help you save about one to two percent on your utility bills over the course of the winter” Guiles says.

Turnig the heat down when you leave your home or while you're sleeping will help lower your bills.

Community Center Hopes Bad Building Becomes New Facility

The Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN) Southside Coalition held a meeting Monday night to discuss the demolition of one of the city's most notorious buildings. Neighbors know the building at 170 West Brighton Ave as a place of drug deals and prostitution. The building is also unsanitary: one time, raw sewage was pumped from the building into the yard, SUN community organizer Phil Prehm said.

The Cannon Street Community Center which lies next door and its director hopes that the loss of 170 Brighton will be the center's gain. "There's a big chance and hope that our building will get bigger [with the demolition of the building]," director Denise Moore said. The expansion would allow more children to enjoy the center, Moore said. Ashlee Magee is a child who often attends the center. "We would like area to do more gardening, a basketball court, a better swing set, stuff like that," Magee said. However the meeting established no timetable for the destruction of the building.

Local Car Show Welcomes High Gas Prices

Photo by Jocelyn Ehnstrom

While record high gas prices have average motorists complaining, the high cost of fuel is good news for Doc Shine. Open hoods and open beers fill Washington Park in Liverpool Village where Shine puts on a classic car show every Thursday. 'Classic Cruise' has been around for the last seven years, but lately attendance has benefitted from the high cost of fuel. "The gas prices have actually helped local cruises because guys are staying local doing these little cruises in a 20 mile radius. ," Shine says, "They're not doing the big shows 3 or 4 thousand miles away and if they do, they chose to do one per season."

The classic cars were made when gas was cheaper forcing the current owners of these gas guzzlers to reconsider the shows they visit. Joey Donovan drives his father's 1955 Chevy which only gets 15 miles per gallon "I haven't taken it out as much" Donovan says. Syracuse is hosting the 9th annual Nationals classic car show this weekend, which will feature thousands of classic cars and is among the top five largest shows in the country.

Sale Price In Upstate New York

The struggling economy has had little effect on the sales of homes in upstate New York. The value of homes have went down in most places in the nation. Sales of homes in the United States on average have dropped 4.8 percent since last year. In Syracuse the sale of homes have increased 2.6percent in the same time span. "We have not seen mass appreciation. We never had. We've been steady, steady, steady" says Jane Mostow. Mostow is a certified real estate appraiser and broker. She says that Syracuse has not received the mass increases in the past that other places in the country have and Syracuse will not see the same decreases.

Hybrids Costing Independent Car Shops

Mom and pop auto shops in Syracuse say they're shelling out more cash to keep up with the hybrid car trend. Shop owner Tony Masello of Masello's Auto Service says he spends $600 every year to send his technicians to hybrid training classes.

Masello says even though he services no more than three hybrids a month out of 200 cars, learning how to service them is important.

"There are safety issues," Masello says. "You have to be real careful of how you service them. There's high voltage that can kill you."

Masello says he plans on making back all the money he's invested in hybrid training in five years. He says that's when warranties expire on most hybrids and drivers will start relying on independent auto shops instead of dealerships.

"If you don't start training early on these things, before you know it, you don't know what you're doing," Masello says.

Other mom and pop auto shops say they haven't spent any money to send their technicians to hybrid classes because they say it's not cost effective. But they say they would most likely start sending their employees for training in at least four years.

Warranties for each brand of hybrid car vary from car to car and typically expire after three years or 36-thousand miles.

Southside Community Wants Building Gone

A neighborhood on Syracuse’s Southside is upset over a vacant building that is constantly filled with crime and a danger to the community. The building is behind the West Cannon Community Center where many children participate in program activities and people worry about their safety. One mother whose son goes to the center says she wants the building taken down. "This program needs more people who care about the children, because this building has been here for like five years and they still haven't done nothing about it," she says. People say both the city and the landlord have neglected the problem.

Syracuse United Neighbors, S-U-N, http://sunaction.wordpress.com/ held a meeting at the community center on Monday evening so that people could tell city officials their concerns. City Attorney Rory MacMahon emphasized that people need to attend a hearing on Spetember 18th to ensure that a conviction will follow the third arrest made at the vacant building. A third conviction means the building could be shut off to the public. Amanda Pascall, Southside Coalition Chair of S-U-N, says the coalition wants to help the neighborhood find a solution.“You can understand their frustration, it’s just holding the officials accountable, giving them some sort of hope that this time is going to be different,” Pascall says.

Many people are frustrated because problems such as this always arise in the neighborhood and help seems to take forever, and they are tired of waiting.

CNY SPCA Over Capacity

The Central New York SPCA is over its maximum capacity. The shelter is referring people who bring in animals to other locations in Syracuse. As of July 14, the SPCA was about twenty dogs and fifty cats over their limit for the staff and volunteers to handle.

The shelter is overcrowded because for every animal adopted, it takes in two more. More animals are being turned into the shelter this summer because people are seeing it as a way to back on their expenses. CNY SPCA’s Director of Public Education, Stephanie Woyciesjes, says the rise in gas and food prices have greatly affected the large amount of animals that are brought in to the shelter. “People are coming to us and they can’t afford to keep the cat. They can’t afford to feed the cat. They can’t afford things along that line," she says.

Even though a number of animals are being turned in, it is not affecting adoptions as they have been increasing since January.

Batman Raking in the Dough at Local Comic Stores

With the release of the Dark Knight fast approaching, the hype surrounding it is extending into other places besides the box office. Local comic book stores see the increase in their business as more people come in clamoring for that one piece of Batman memorablilia that will make their lives complete. A lot of this can also be attributed to the untimely death of Heath Ledger, whose role as the Joker in the new movie has earned a lot of praise from critics and has fans wanting anything and everything that has to do with the character. Jayd Evy works at Play the Game, Read the Story in the Carousel Center, and said that a lot of customers coming in wanting Batman comics and collectibles.
"Batman is huge because of the whole controversy surrounding the death of the Joker and Ledger and I've been selling a lot more stuff because of that," said Evy.
Evy said that most comic book movies bring in extra business, but the Dark Knight has more people coming in than any of the previous titles this summer such as Iron Man or The Incredible Hulk.

An Olympic Internship

Philip Tenser was selected to be an intern for NBC at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He is one of about 20 Syracuse University students to be selected from a pool of thousands from universities nationwide. Tenser leaves for China in three days and is anticipating having to do a lot of work. "My specific job is called logging and it is essentially tape editing, watching events from the IBC, the International Broadcast Center...watching events, logging events, choosing highlights and then passing them on to the bigwigs who are going to choose what goes on TV." Tenser said while the work might be tedious, it is important to maintain a positive attitude and create a good reputation. He says you never know when a company could give you a call back for a job based on the work you have done for them as an intern.

Thornden Pool

Most days, Thornden Park pool is underused, according to Susanne Bang. Bang says that when the temperatures aren't in the nineties, that the pool feels like her own personal pool because of the lack of people there. Bang has lived in Syracuse for 30 years and the pool has always been a part of her life. When she was young, she was on the swim team and would stay until the pool closed. Now that she is a mother she takes her family to the pool everyday.

Thornden Pool

Panhandler Wants to Help You Save Money

Local panhandler Gertis McDowell sits in his wheelchair at the corner of University Avenue and Marshall Street shaking his tin of coins nearly every day. But on Saturdays as soon as someone is about to put money in a parking meter, he starts to yell. “Don’t do it! Don’t do it!” he shouts, as he wheels over to surprised parkers.

McDowell explains to parkers that on Saturdays no one from the city comes around to check if people have paid for parking. “I stop them…try to stop them and save them some money from parking” he says.

Parking meters all around the city list Monday through Saturdays as mandatory paid parking days. But McDowell knows, and the police confirm, that no one is employed to check for paid parking on weekends. “The traffic people that work the parking meters, maids and that kind of stuff that work Monday through Friday are out there Monday through Friday. They have Saturday and Sunday off”, confirms Undersheriff Warren Darby.

Why do city meters list mandatory paid parking for Saturdays if no one is out there checking? “They [the city] don’t want to pay anyone. The city hopes people will put money in meters….they want to make money” says Captain Shannon Trice of the Syracuse Police Department. Parkers shouldn’t get too confident about not paying on Saturdays, because regular police officers on duty can still issue tickets. But in this city, they are usually too busy to do so.

Jazz Fest In Jeopardy

The 26-year-old Syracuse Jazz Festival is at a crossroads less than two weeks after the end of this year's event. Despite having drawn an estimated 50,000 people over two days this year, Director Frank Malfitano is concerned that the festival may be over.

"The decision is never up to me," Malfitano says. "Ultimately the decision is up to those people who have the checkbooks and the pens."

Malfitano wants to keep Jazz Fest a free event, but so far does not have a title sponsor for next year. Some of the members of the organizing committee have suggested charging admission to the festival. JGB Enterprises was the title sponsor this year, but says it can't afford to do so again.

The Syracuse Chiefs' Attendance Woes

While Minor League Baseball has been setting attendance records for the past five years, the Syracuse Chiefs have not shared the same great fortune. In fact, the Chiefs' average a measly 5,400 fans a game in a stadium that can seat up to 11,000. Furthermore, rivals of the Chiefs, such as the Pawtucket Red Sox, average around 10,000 fans per game. Syracuse Chiefs director of business development Andy Gee attributes the low attendance to the busy lives today's kids lead. "Kids and their families have always been our biggest draw. There is more stuff that these kids have going on in their own athletics that they cannot make it to as many games as they used to." Gee also claimed that cities like Pawtucket are more family friendly than Syracuse, allowing more children and their families to attend baseball games. Another reason for the Chiefs' poor attendance may be their affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays. Pawtucket is only about an hour from Boston, so there are naturally lots of Red Sox fans curious about what players are on Pawtucket. Toronto, on the other hand, is over three hours away from Syracuse, not to mention the Blue Jays do not have nearly the fan base that Boston does. This Friday, the Chiefs are holding "College Night," where college students have the chance to win $1,000 and even $10,000 scholarships.

Employment Agency

The Branch Manager at a Syracuse employment agency says it's getting tougher to find jobs for people. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the layoffs in May tripled from last May's numbers in the country.
The Branch Manager at Adecco Employment, Laurie Bush, says "We have seen more and more people calling in looking for work that are on current layoffs and they've taken their unemployment to the extreme." Regular benefits for people in the state of New York last for 26 weeks.
Bush says Adecco receives fifty to one hundred calls a day but only interviews five or six a day. The company is receiving more calls but not more job openings.

Pool Safety During Summer

Photo By Jocelyn Ehnstrom

Syracuse pools are filling with people trying to stay cool, making the safety of beginning swimmers a concern for parents. A regular visitor to Thornden Park pool in Syracuse, Susanne Bang, says small precautions can cut back on pool emergencies, "I mean they can't dive, there are certain places they can't jump and what not, but if you're talking about pleasing that many people to keep them safe, I don't have a problem with those rules." Bang describes these concerns while never taking her eyes off her two young sons.

Each of Bang's three children has passed Thornden pool's swimming test and are allowed to swim without her there, but she still goes to put her mind at ease. As her three children eagerly wait to jump back in the pool, she makes them wait till she can also watch them.

For more information on pool safety visit:
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/sumsafety/
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/pools.htm

Onondaga Lake perfect for escaping the heat

Though a harsh sun beat down today, a steady breeze coming off of Onondaga Lake offered refuge for those looking to cool off. Some families let their children frolic on the playground while they enjoyed the shade the trees offered, while others jogged or rollerbladed down the winding path down towards the pier. Kathy and Jim Dokoupil, a retired Liverpool couple, found a comfy spot near the lake's edge, where they propped up two chairs and lost themselves in a good book.
"We knew there would be a breeze today." said Kathy Dokoupil while she sat back and laughed. "We don't have air conditioning, so it gets hot."
One thing the Dokoupils did not have to contend with was space, as there was plenty of room for someone to find a quiet spot and relax. Temperatures are supposed to stay in the high 80's to low 90's all week which could keep the lake empty as people stay glued to their air conditioners.

Air Condition Companies: Profits on the Rise

Many are happy its summer in Syracuse, especially our local air conditioning companies. When temperatures reach into the nineties sales go up, and so do their profits at TAG Mechanical Air Conditioning Company located at 4019 New Court Ave.

“A lot of time we’re very much dependent for a lot our air conditioning sales to having a couple of good hot weeks, Director of Sales Ellis Guiles says, and if we don’t have that, then the only people who are really putting it in are people who planned on doing it anyway.”

For some local businesses a little warm weather equals a hefty profit. It seems as though the sun is not all that Guiles will be enjoying this summer.

http://www.tagmechanical.com/

http://www.cooneyair.com

Green Energy

County Legislator Tom Buckel wants Onondaga County to be a state leader in energy efficiency. David Ashley is a senior partner at an environmentally conscience architect firm, Ashley McGraw. An expert in green energy use, Ashley says that Buckel’s idea for the county is too general and lacks a plan of action.

“We need a government authority to start organizing all of the renewable energy use,” Ashley says. For example, there is an authority for services like water and garbage. Just as these materials are stored and transported, the same could happen with renewable materials like compost, yard debris and other recyclables. This way, there would be a resource for renewable energy that people could have access to when they needed.

Ashley also emphasizes that preserving historic buildings is another way the city can be more energy efficient. Tearing down and rebuilding a structure takes more resources from the environment, than making changes to an existing structure.

Greening USA gives ideas on how communities can be more energy efficient and environmentally aware. http://www.greeningusa.org/

Free Lunch

The Syracuse School District is helping some kids eat free during the summer. The school district is participating in a program called the Food Services Program 2008. The Food Services Program was developed to feed children 18 years old and younger who normally receive free or reduced lunch during the school year. "The parents love the program, they know their kids are being fed and they don't have to worry about them." says Jerry Scheirer the school lunch manager at Fowler High School. Kids can get their meals from different schools, churches, recreation centers, and parks. The program started on Monday and ends August 15th. To find out the locations where children can get their meals call (315) 435-4207 for more information. http://news10now.com/default.aspx?ArID=119736

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/

Presidential Campaigns Utilize the Internet

Syracuse Obama Campaign Headquarters is expecting to have a big meeting this Wednesday. Volunteers will meet to plan strategy for the rest of the campaign. Most of the members who plan on attending the meeting use the Internet to keep up to date with the campaign.

Central New York Obama Campaign Coordinator Lisa Daly says the Internet is the best way to reach young voters. "We rely very heavily on online media. Some of it is higher impact than others, some of it is just fun. In addition to phone calls and pamphlets, the Internet is one other way of reaching people and making it easier for them." Daly has created a Syracuse for Obama group on the official Barack Obama campaign website. The official Barack Obama website can be accessed here.

The Obama campaign has created online blogs, event calendars and chat rooms to attract voters. Volunteers also schedule and organize monthly meetings with local supporters. Online campaigning has helped Daly and local Obama supporters rapidly spread their message throughout the community, and this campaign method has allowed volunteers to reach more supporters than expected.

Visit SyracuseforObama.com for more information about this local campaign headquarters and Lisa Daly's online group.

Cholesterol-fighting Drugs for Kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics released its guidelines and is recommending kids as young as eight take cholesterol-fighting drugs.

But East Syracuse Pediatrician Sean O'Malley says not so fast; he feels that the drugs are okay, but should not be the first thing families turn to.

"I think they should be considered kind of second line after regular diet and exercise programs have been attempted and failed", says O'Malley.

O'Malley also says the first step towards bringing down your child's cholesterol level is meeting with a nutritionist and getting help with meal planning.

For more information you can also visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website on http://http://www.aap.org/

Safety First for Lifeguards at Thornden Park

As the temperature rises, so does the attendance of people at Thornden Park Pool in Syracuse. Children running and jumping into the pool, parents and lifeguards yelling; it can become hectic. But the lifeguards are aware of the injuries that can happen at a crowded pool. Lifeguards make sure that no swimmers jump or dive into the pool with a lot of people around . Also, all swimmers must play safely and respect others around them so people don't get injured.

"Were definitely really busy, especially on hot days," lifeguard Margaret Mooney says. "Yesterday there were about 50 children at the pool and we have to stay at our posts and keep a close eye on all the swimmers."

She also says their most important duty as a lifeguard is to ensure the safety of all the swimmers. Thornden pool is open to the public daily from noon till 7:30 pm.

For more information on pool safety visit:

http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html