(Vernon, NY – Feb. 3, 2012) State Police in Oneida investigated a three car personal injury accident on State Route 5 between Hawthorne Drive and Youngs Road in the Town of Vernon, which occurred at approximately 3:42 p.m. Feb. 1.

Beatrice H. Jones, 79, of Route 5, Vernon was driving her 2008 Chevrolet eastbound on State Route 5 followed by a 2005 Toyota Prius operated by Alex P. Dudajek, 87, of Clinton Street, New York Mills when Jones stopped to allow oncoming traffic to pass before making a left turn into her driveway.

Dudajek failed to observe the Jones vehicle stopped in the eastbound lane and struck the Jones vehicle in the rear.  The force of the impact caused the Jones vehicle to enter the westbound lane of Route 5 and into the path of a westbound 2008 Ford van operated by Joseph F. Verro, 60, of Center Street, Canastota.  The Verro vehicle struck the Jones vehicle and travelled off the north side of the roadway, where it overturned onto its roof in a ditch.

Beatrice Jones was trapped inside of her vehicle and had to be extricated by members of the Vernon Fire Department using hydraulic tools.

Jones was transported by Vineall Ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Trauma Center in Utica, where she was treated for broken bones and internal injuries.

Dudajek complained of chest pain at the scene and was transported by private vehicle to Faxton Hospital in Utica for treatment.

A passenger in the Verro vehicle, David P. Hart, 55, was treated at the scene for lacerations to his hand and transported by private vehicle to Oneida Healthcare for further evaluation.

Alex Dudajek was issued a traffic ticket for speed not reasonable and prudent returnable in the Town of Vernon Court on Feb. 15, 2012.

(Jan. 25, 2012) Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford) presented an Assembly Resolution, with Senator Griffo (seen above), on behalf of the Honorable Stanley C. Wolanin, who served as Town of Whitestown justice for 52 years. Justice Wolanin was the longest serving justice in New York State. His devoted service to the community is matched by a long history of being a dedicated neighbor.

“The honorable Justice Wolanin is an exemplary member of our community. His dedication to country, home, neighbors and profession is a standard to which we should all commit.  His service to the Whitestown community will never be forgotten. We will miss him but we are comforted to know that this wonderful man still calls our Central New York community home,” said Assemblywoman Tenney

Wolanin’s service to the community began at the young age of 17 when he served our nation as a United States NAVY gunners mate on the minesweeper USS Knave. As a veteran, Wolanin has been a member of a local VFW, the Whitestown American Legion, the elected commander of PLAV Bator post (Polish Legion of American Veterans), and served as committee chairman to build the gazebo at Veterans Park.

Wolanin is also a lifetime member of the New York Mills and Yorkville fire departments.

(Marcy, NY – December 6, 2011)  The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Marcy arrested Frank Caporale, 43, of New York Mills and charged him with first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing and Fraudulent Practices, both felonies.

Caporale, a New York State Corrections Officer at Midstate Correctional Facility, is alleged to have cause to be submitted written statements that contained materially false information to the New York State Insurance Fund as part of a claim for payment.

The statements indicated that Caporale was not working, when he in fact was working a second job. As a result of these filings, the defendant did wrongfully collect $10,540 in workers compensation benefits from the State Insurance Fund.

The case was investigated by Investigator Paul Ruffo with the New York State Department of Financial Services and Senior Investigator David Scharoun with the New York State Insurance Fund. Caporale was subsequently issued appearance tickets returnable in the Town of Marcy Justice Court.

(Dec. 5, 2011) To help “kick-off” recycling and waste reduction programs this fall, the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority teamed up with Nike Reuse-A-Shoe to conduct sneaker drives in local schools. The initiative was offered to all public and private K-12 schools buildings in Oneida and Herkimer Counties.

Schools were asked to collect as many worn out sneakers as possible, instead of throwing them in the trash.  Then, OHSWA collected and sent the sneakers to Nike Reuse-A-Shoe to be recycled into rubber, foam and fiber materials used for building new places, such as playgrounds, running tracks, football fields, basketball courts and more.

The purpose of this program was to continue to raise student and community awareness of reducing, reusing and recycling.

Fifteen schools in the region participated in the program this fall. Many schools had Student Councils, Green Teams, and other Environmental Clubs take charge of the program.

“Some schools developed contests for the program that helped increase participation and awareness as well,” said Jamie Tuttle, Authority School Recycling Coordinator. “Keeping students thinking and excited about recycling only helps us spread awareness and increase recycling efforts.”

Through promoting this program, students have been motivated to think “outside of the box” and realize that there are many items outside of paper, plastic, metal and glass that can be reused or recycled.

“Once items are past the point of being reused, we hope that our residents look to our many recycling opportunities before they settle for the trash can,” stated Tuttle.

This initiative has allowed schools in the region to work together for the same cause—promoting environmental stewardship, diverting waste from our landfill and conserving natural resources and energy.

The cooperative efforts between participating schools proved to be successful as OHSWA collected almost 1,000 pairs of sneakers from participating schools during the last week of November. The amount of sneakers collected weighed approximately one ton.

“The schools that participated should be very proud,” continued Tuttle. “This is a perfect example of how people can come together to make a big difference through simple actions.”

*The 15 schools that participated are as follows:

1.       Poland Central School

2.       Holland Patent Middle School

3.       Dolgeville Elementary School

4.       Clinton Middle and High School

5.       Jones Elementary School (Utica)

6.       Staley Upper Elementary School (Rome)

7.       Camden Elementary School

8.       Jarvis Junior/Senior High School (Mohawk)

9.       New York Mills Central School

10.   West Canada Valley

11.   Camden Middle School

12.   Harts Hill Elementary

13.   Marcy Elementary

14.   Ridge Mills Elementary

15.   Sauquoit Valley Middle School

(Marcy, NY – Dec. 2, 2011) On Nov. 30, Investigator Allen Svitak Jr. of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Marcy, arrested William A. Beery, 36, of 754 Main St., New York Mills and charged him with second-degree Forgery (D-Felony ), fourth-degree Grand Larceny  (E-Felony) and Petit Larceny (Misdemeanor).

The arrest stemmed from Beery writing and passing a check valued at $2,056 on a closed account. Beery also represented himself as a salesman for a company called Security Networks and offered to install a security surveillance package for a local business in the Town of Marcy. He then accepted a down payment and completed a contract, however Beery was not employed by this company and no work was ever completed.

Beery was arraigned in the Town of Floyd Justice Court and was committed to the Oneida County Jail on $5,000 bail and is to reappear in the Town of Marcy Court.

The State Police were assisted by Investigator Bill Williams of the Utica Police Department Warrant Squad in locating and arresting Beery.

(Oneida County, NY – Oct. 2011) October 2-8 is National 4-H Week, and Oneida County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world.

Recent findings from Tufts University’s 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H’ers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities.

In Oneida County, more than 300 4-H members and 120 volunteers are involved in 4‑H.  The Oneida County 4-H program reaches over 3000 total youth through after-school programs and other 4-H sponsored activities throughout the year.

Oneida county 4-H members are involved in a wide variety of projects from animals to robotics.  They actively participate in public communication events, community service and project specific shows and competitions.  4-H volunteers guide youth by using their individual expertise and mentoring them throughout the year.  An abundant amount of local, state, and national opportunities are available to those involved in 4-H.  These opportunities and more are available through the 4-H program and help us build our leaders of tomorrow.

Learn how you can become involved in 4-H by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County at (315) 736-3394, extension 122 or email Kristi Cranwell at kac292@cornell.edu

(Syracuse, NY – Sept. 28, 2011) The Central New York Region has everything a traveler could want out of a visit to New York State, from something old (historical landmarks, museums and rustic B&Bs) to something new (state-of-the-art science centers, modern theatrical performances and high-end spas). To emphasize the “something old,” the area is overflowing with quaint shops touting eclectic antiques and collectibles, offering a slice of the region’s rich past. It is truly a picker’s (and a historian’s) paradise.

For starters, the Madison-Bouckville area offers a year-round antique venue with over 30 shops featuring hundreds of dealers, plus the largest antique show in New York State every third week in August. This event, the Madison Bouckville Antique Week, draws more than 2,000 dealers for a weeklong show along one two-mile stretch of Route 20. Another superb find for antique hunters in Madison County is The Market at Oneida Commons, a neat little mall open year-round that’s packed with vintage items, crafts, jewelry, books, furniture, locally-produced Pride of NY foods and other odds and ends that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Cobbler & C. in Sharon Springs, Schoharie County, offers a treasure trove of antiques. Up on the second floor is a wide array of used, but “new to you” goods: a collection of old dishes, glassware, books, magazines and other collectibles.

In Oneida County, the Westmoreland Antique Center features 80 dealer spaces with a vast array of antiques and vintage collectibles like holiday merchandise, milk bottles, postcards and advertising collectibles, plus a vast selection of glassware, china and furniture.

Charlotte’s Antiques in Chenango County welcomes antique enthusiasts to pore over home décor, women’s clothing and jewelry, and rare collectibles, among other specialty items. For Iroquois artifacts, one-of-a-kind classics and various collectibles, Carriage Barn Antiques, Iroquois Antiques and Pheasant Farm Antiques are a few popular stops in the area.

The Little Falls Antique Center in Herkimer County showcases oldies but goodies from 18 dealers. Just a ways down the street, Stone Mill of Little Falls houses everything vintage from lighting, to clothing, to decorative arts and prints, plus local treasures like Oriental carpets from Erie Canal Carpets, sterling silver and cookbooks. The unexpected can be expected in the old factory atmosphere of this 1839 mill built on the banks of the Mohawk River, as the inventory is ever changing. Greater Binghamton’s Clinton Street, aptly named the “Antique Row,” is a hot spot for antiquing, hosting as many as 30 dealers at a given time. The locale makes perfect sense, as Clinton Street itself is an antique – it existed long before the city of Binghamton.

Cooperstown in Otsego County is saturated in antiquing opportunities. More than 50 shops line the area, from main streets to country roads, including NYS Route 7 corridor from Unadilla to Oneonta, the NYS Route 28 corridor from Oneonta to Cooperstown, and US Route 20, the road to the Madison-Bouckville Antique Show. For those seeking a myriad of vintage items, from china and glassware to historic textiles and furniture, shops like Barkley Barn Blue Ribbon Antiques, Lake Antiques and Antiques & Artifacts are must-sees. Even the antiquing venues themselves are fascinating and range from charming homes to old barns brimming with collectibles.

For some, a successful hunt for the perfect antique can take months or even years. The Central New York Region’s seemingly limitless supply of rare antiques and collectibles in dozens of shops across the area, however, can certainly help to shorten the duration of that hunt and make it quite enjoyable along the way.

For more antiquing opportunities and other information about the Central New York Region, check out:www.JustGoCNY.com.

Pictured from left, are, Officer Joseph Dare of the Utica Police Department, Riley Kohl (5 years old), Ella Lorraine (5 years old) and Edward P. Welsh, General Manager – AAA NY Central Region.

(Utica, NY- Sept. 2, 2011) The Utica Police Department and top state

and local officials have joined to urge vigorous public support of AAA’s annual “School’s Open—Drive Carefully” campaign to help preserve the safety of children traveling to and from school.

AAA’s yearly “School’s Open—Drive Carefully” campaign alerts motorists to the special risks to school-age children from motor vehicle crashes, the leading cause of death for children from five to fourteen years old.

To encourage drivers to exercise caution, Edward Welsh, General Manager of AAA New York’s Central Region said that “AAA will be placing colorful posters bearing the “School’s Open” legend to local police departments and will display them at many busy intersections and school crossings during the month of September.”

Motorists will receive an additional reminder each time they see one of the “School’s Open” bumper stickers, also distributed by AAA New York for display on trucks, buses, official vehicles, school buses and passenger cars. Among the prominent officials who have endorsed AAA’s “School’s Open” campaign this year are: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Barbara Fiala; Commissioner of Education, John King and Acting Superintendent of State Police, Joseph D’Amico. The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police also supports the campaign.

Officer Joseph Dare similarly endorsed the efforts of AAA New York and reminded motorists, “School’s Open – Drive Carefully.”

Ed Welsh also emphasized the need to show extra caution when driving as schools reopen, since it is then that vacation-minded children are apt to be less careful.  Motorists should be particularly alert for children darting out between parked cars on busy streets.

(Aug. 30, 2011) The Cultural Resources Council has expanded its role in providing grant support for Central New York artists and public arts programs.

A regional arts agency based in Syracuse, the CRC is now accepting applications for four different arts grant programs serving nine counties.

“The arts are an important element in the vitality of our communities,” said Steven Butler, CRC Executive Director. “In this time of economic retrenchment, we are pleased to offer support for arts activity in a wider geographic area.”

While the geographic reach of the four programs differs, support is now available to artists, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities in Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego and Oswego Counties. Potential applicants should check the specific program descriptions to determine eligibility.

Community Arts Grants are offered to not-for-profit organizations that sponsor community-based arts projects. Grants of $500 to $5,000 are awarded competitively for activities such as performances, arts festivals, exhibitions, public arts classes, mural projects, and many other programs that enhance local cultural life.

Funds are provided by the State and Local Partnership Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), through its Decentralization initiative. Counties served by CRC Community Arts Grants are: Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego. Applications must be received by November 1.

Individual Artist Grants are offered to artists in the visual, performing, literary and media arts for carrying out creative projects that strengthen their connection to the community. Grants of $1,000 are awarded for activities such as the creation of art in public places; the creation of new music, choreography or scripts for public performance; the creation and public dissemination of film or video works.

Funds are provided by the State and Local Partnership Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), through its Decentralization initiative. Counties served by CRC Individual Artist Grants are Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego.

Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS) are grants of $200 to $1,500 offered to working artists in all disciplines for specific opportunities that significantly benefit their career development. The CRC is one of eight regional organizations throughout New York who administer this program for the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).

The CRC administers Strategic Opportunity Stipends for artists residing in Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Otsego Counties. Applications must be received by Sept. 12 or April 5.

Art$TART Grants of $500 to $2,000 support creative teaching partnerships between schools (Pre-K through Grade 12) and arts organizations or individual artists.

With funds from the Arts Education Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, the program supports curriculum-related projects in public or private schools of Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.  Applications must be  received by Nov. 15.

Details and application procedures for all CRC arts grant programs are available on the CRC website at www.mycnyarts.org. The website also provides a listing of currently scheduled information meetings throughout Central New York.

(Marcy, NY – Aug. 44, 2011) On Aug. 3 Investigator Chad Tangorra of State Polie Marcy BCI , arrested Ryan R. Williams, 32, of 33 Elm St., New York Mills and charged him with second-degree Burglary, a Class “C” felony.

Williams is alleged to have forcibly entered a residence located on Kenwood Road in the Town of Marcy in July of 2011 and stole tools from within.

He was arraigned in the Town of Marcy Court and was committed to the Oneida County Jail on $30,000 bail.

The Village of New York Mills Police Department assisted the State Police in the investigation.