2011 December

Check On Disabled Vehicle Leads to DWI in Vernon

December 31, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Vernon, NY – Dec. 30, 2011) A trooper dispatched to check on a disabled vehicle on Route 5 in the Town of Vernon Friday afternoon found the driver to be intoxicated and charged the 21 year old man with DWI.

A cell phone caller contacted Oneida County 911 at approximately 1:30 p.m. reporting a 2007 Audi stopped along the eastbound shoulder of Route 5 and advised that the operator appeared to be intoxicated. A trooper responded to find the driver Andrew M. Krasniak of Clinton was in fact intoxicated and had pulled to the shoulder after having mechanical problems with his vehicle.

Krasniak was processed at the SP Waterville station, where a breath test determined his blood alcohol content to be .10 percent. Krasniak was issued traffic tickets for driving while intoxicated and Driving with a BAC of .08 percent or more and is to appear in the Town of Vernon Court on Jan. 25, 2012.

Following the processing, Krasniak contacted a friend, Connor L. Martin, 23, of Clinton to pick him up at the Waterville station and it was discovered that Martin was wanted by the Village of Vernon Police on a bench warrant issued by the Village of Vernon Court for failing to appear on a violation of a village ordinance. Martin was arrested and turned over to the Vernon Police Department.

Filed Under: Clinton, Cops/Crime/Courts, Vernon, Waterville

Utica Woman Arrested for having one pound of Marijuana in Vehicle

December 31, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Dec. 31, 2011) State Police at Albany, Troop T arrested a Utica woman for second-degree Criminal Possession of Marijuana following a traffic stop for inadequate tail lights at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday night.

The trooper smelled an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle; further investigation by Troopers and K-9 revealed a plastic bag filled with clothes in the trunk that also contained two clear plastic baggies of marijuana with a weight of over one pound.

The driver, Brittany A. Jones, 26, of Utica was charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class D Felony and arraigned before town of Bethleham Court and remanded to Albany County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

A passenger in the same vehicle, Anna M. Griffin, 28, also from Utica was found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana on her person and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation and issued an appearance ticket returnable in the town Bethleham court at a later date.

Filed Under: Cops/Crime/Courts, Top Stories, Utica

Free Coffee at Thruway Rest Stops

December 30, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

News from New York State Thruway Authority

ALBANY, NY (12/30/2011)(readMedia) Keeping up a 41-year tradition, free coffee and hot tea will be available to travelers along the New York State Thruway on New Year’s Eve.

The free beverages will be available at each of the 27 Thruway Travel Plazas from 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, through 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012.

“Sleepiness and fatigue are major contributors to highway accidents,” said Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Thomas J. Madison. “This New Year’s Eve tradition in partnership with Thruway’s vendors is intended to remind motorists to take breaks to prevent drowsy driving on the Thruway and other roadways. As motorists head to their destinations during the holiday period, drivers should be aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.”

Vendors participating in the free-coffee program are McDonald’s Corporation, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, and HMS Host Corporation.

Travelers are reminded they should never stop along the shoulder of the road unless it is an actual emergency.

For a complete list of travel plazas along the Thruway, see the weblink http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelplazas/index.html.

Filed Under: Announcements, Automotive

Top Canal Crews Lock Up Honors

December 30, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

News from New York State Canal Corporation

ALBANY, NY (12/30/2011)(readMedia) In recognition of superior performance, the New York State Canal Corporation today announced top honors for the operators of canal facilities that provide outstanding service to our patrons.

Among the Canal honorees are: Best Lock, Lock 4 at Waterloo on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal; Best Section, Fort Edward on the Champlain Canal; and Best Tugboat, Tug Roosevelt, based in Utica on the Erie Canal.

The winners were graded during an annual inspection of the 524-mile-long Canal system in the Fall. The inspection tour was led by Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton and conducted by boat for the first time in nearly two decades. With the exception of locks damaged by flooding related to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, every canal facility was graded on overall performance.

Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Behind each supervisor whose name is listed stand crews of dedicated and hardworking men and women who make the Canal system run smoothly and efficiently. There is a spirited competition among facilities in each category to maintain high standards of performance. The real winners are our customers who travel New York’s canals each season.”

Stratton invited local officials and stakeholders to join him on state tugboats during the inspection tour. “It was a terrific opportunity share ideas on how to improve our great canal system, and to build on the $380 million in economic benefits that it produces annually throughout Upstate New York. I thought it was also important to meet and personally thank the Canal employees who make the system work day in and day out.”

The complete list of Canal honorees includes:

Section of the Year: Fort Edward — Section Superintendent Matthew Walsh

First Place Lock: C/S-4 (Waterloo) – Chief Lock Operator James DeSanto

Second Place Lock: E-33 (Rochester) — Chief Lock Operator Michael Brenner

Third Place Lock: C/S-2&3 (Seneca Falls) — Chief Lock Operator Troy Sebastiano

First Place Lift Bridge: E-174 (Spencerport) — Canal Structure Operator Timothy Leverenz

Best Floating Plant: Waterford — Floating Plant Supervisor Michael Britt

Best Tugboat: Tug Roosevelt (Utica) — Captain James Baker

Best Tender: Tender 6 (Albion) — Captain Wendy Marble

Best Derrick Boat or Gradall Boat: Derrick Boat 6 (Syracuse) — Captain Michael Egnor

Best Hydraulic Dredge & Quarter Boat: Hydraulic Dredge 4 & Quarter Boat 14 (Waterford) — Captain David Pettit

Canal facilities are graded on safety, customer service, housekeeping, and preventive maintenance.

For Canal vessels, criteria include safety, housekeeping, the condition of navigation lighting, record keeping, and preventive maintenance.

The award certificates will be presented in the Spring, before the opening of the Canal system for the 2012 navigation season, currently scheduled for May 1, 2012.

Filed Under: Announcements, Utica, Veteran's Corner

State Police Seize over $10,000 worth of Heroin in Utica Drug Bust

December 30, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

Pictured is Carlos Silvagnoli.

(Utica, NY – Dec. 29, 2011) On Wednesday, Dec. 28 the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), as well as personnel from Troop “D,” the NYSP Special Operations and Response Team, and the Utica Police Department Metro Unit, executed multiple search warrants at 914, 916, and 918 Shaw St. and at 1614 Howard Ave. in the City of Utica.

The search warrants resulted in the seizure of over $10,000 worth of heroin and more than $4,000 in cash. Dog Control responded to Shaw Street to tranquilize a vicious Rottweiler that was guarding the heroin.

Arrested for the felony of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, were Carlos Silvagnoli, 39, and Rachel Aviles, 38, both of 914 Shaw St. They were held in Utica City lockup overnight for arraignment on Dec. 29.

Also arrested at 1614 Howard Ave. for absconding from parole was Aaron T. Ware, 34, from the Bronx, NY. Ware is on parole for a criminal possession of a controlled substance arrest in New York City. He was turned over to New York State Parole and will be returned to state prison.

Filed Under: Cops/Crime/Courts, Top Stories, Utica

Flynn Named Director of Security at Turning Stone

December 29, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Verona, NY- Dec. 29, 2011) David Flynn of Chadwicks has been promoted to director of security at the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino. As director, he leads the security team that looks out for the safety and security of the resort, its employees and the 4.5 million guests who visit the destination getaway annually.

Flynn joined Turning Stone’s security team in March 2008 as security manager. Prior to coming to Turning Stone, Flynn was a security manager with the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City for 14 years.

Filed Under: Announcements, Chadwicks, Cops/Crime/Courts, Verona

James Dean Night at the Utica Library is Jan. 10

December 29, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Utica, NY- Jan. 2012) On Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 pm, the Utica Public Library will host James Dean Night. The evening will kick-off with a screening of the 1955 classic “Rebel Without a Cause.”

This groundbreaking film explored teen angst, alienation, and the generation gap in a way that spoke to an entire generation. It also made a cultural icon out of 24-year-old James Dean who died in a tragic car crash the same year the film was released.

After the screening there will be drawings for free prizes including James Dean memorabilia, gift cards, and dark chocolate. All who attend will be eligible.

The event is free to the public and the film is rated G.

For more information call 735-2279.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Libraries, Utica

IBOPE Zogby Poll: 74% Concerned About N. Korean Nuclear Arsenal Following Death of Kim Jong-il

December 29, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Utica, NY – Dec. 29, 2011) The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the ensuing transition of power has caused 74% of U.S. adults to be very (29%) or somewhat concerned (45%) about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. However, few say his death will either improve or worsen relations between the U.S. and North Korea, a new IBOPE Zogby Interactive survey finds.

The Dec. 22-27 survey of 2,100 U.S adults also finds that there is little difference of opinion on whether the world is more or less safe after his death. Nearly two-thirds of adults feel Kim Jong-il’s death will make no difference in U.S. relations with North Korea, or are not sure; while 18% say it will lead to improvement and 15% expect a worsening of relations.

A quarter of adults say his death makes the world less safe, and 17% believe we are now safer. The rest expect no difference in the worlds safety (41%) or were not sure (27%).

A sampling of IBOPE Zogby International’s online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the U.S., was invited to participate. Slight weights were added to region, party, age, race, religion, gender and education to more accurately reflect the population. The margin of error is +/- 2.1 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. The MOE calculation is for sampling error only.

Filed Under: Editorial/Opinions, Government and Politics, Utica

Palmieri Inauguration is Friday

December 29, 2011 By margo 1 Comment

(Utica, NY – Dec. 29, 2011) Robert Michael Palmieri will become the Seventy-Sixth Mayor of the City of Utica on Friday, Dec. 30 at 4:30 PM in the Common Council Chambers.

The Mayor’s Inauguration Committee announced that The Honorable Anthony J. Garramone, accomplished jurist and public servant, will administer Palmieri’s Oath of Office. Common Council President William Morehouse and the members of Utica’s Common Council will be sworn in along with the Mayor-Elect.

“If Utica is to move forward, we must all move forward together,” Palmieri said. “That’s is why I am grateful to each member of the Common Council for joining me at the beginning of the most challenging year our city has ever faced. Further, I am honored that Judge Garramone will oversee this important event. Finally, it is a privilege to return to City Hall and the same Chambers where I first began serving the people nearly two decades ago.”

The Mayor-Elect will deliver brief remarks. A reception will immediately follow the formal program.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Government and Politics, Utica

Griffo Secures Funding to Promote, Grow Region’s Defense Assets

December 29, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Dec. 29, 2011) Senator Joseph A. Griffo announced that he has secured funding that will support a regional public-private sector partnership to help the region develop pro-active steps to tell the success stories of the Department of Defense installations in the region, including the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome. Griffo said $100,000 will go to the Griffiss Local Development Corp. and $25,000 to the Central New York Defense Alliance. Both are based in Rome.

“Two things are very clear,” Griffo said. “The latest round of budget discussions in Washington has produced the potential for a fiscal climate where every installation needs to be able to tell the story of its success and every region needs to be prepared to make a fact-based case when and if questions are asked about realigning Department of Defense assets. At a time when economic activity has been struggling, the existing Defense-related assets, including EAS, DFAS, ROME Lab, and the millions of dollars in contracts and services generated by the presence of the Lab at Griffiss Park are all vital to our regional economy and must be protected. I see this investment as a step to enhance and grow DoD assets by showing that existing projects here are successes and that the region should be a hub for growth.”

Griffo said that he supports a pro-active effort to bring partners together and develop the region’s case, and not take the sort of defensive actions that would follow a Base Realignment and Closure Commission or other official steps from Washington. “The three tenets of my approach are to be positive, to promote growth based on existing success, and to keep the people and all of our officials informed,” he said. “The federal assets in our region have some great stories to tell, and our job is to be sure that the stories are told to the policymakers in Washington and that everyone in our region is fully aware of these success stories. Not only are these facilities very important to our local economy, they are important to the federal government and are best left to grow and increase their efficiency. Breaking up operations that perform well would be disastrous for our region and for the efficiency of the Department of Defense. That’s the story we need to tell, and one that takes time, effort and resources to tell properly.”

Griffo said that his experience with successful efforts to stave off closures makes it important to start early. “The informal discussions that have been taking place among a number of partners now need to move to the next level,” Griffo said. “When you go from talk to action, you need resources. The funding I have secured moves us to the next level.”

Filed Under: Announcements, Government and Politics, Rome, Top Stories, Veteran's Corner

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