(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. 27, 2011)  On Aug. 26 the New York State Police in Marcy/Waterville, along with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Power Authority Security, conducted a marijuana eradication operation in Southern Oneida County. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 120 marijuana plants from two locations.

Approximately 50 plants were located in the Town of Paris off ST-8. Investigation by the New York State Police led to the arrest of Christopher A. Roberts, 37 of Sauquoit.

He was charged with fourth-degree Criminal Possession of Marijuana and Growing Cannabis under the Public Health Law, both misdemeanors.

He was issued an appearance ticket returnable in the Town of Paris Court.

Approximately 70 marijuana plants were located in the Town of Sangerfield off Mason Road. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.

While conducting the investigating in Sangerfield, the Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Darrick E. Wratten, 26, of Waterville for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (Violation).

He was issued an appearance ticket returnable in the Town of Sangerfield Court.

(Marcy, NY - June 17, 2011) The New York State Police in Marcy have concluded a month long investigation with the arrest of Shane J. Seeman, 44, of 2288 Dewing Avenue, Clayville.

The Oneida County Child Advocacy Center was initially contacted regarding a subject allegedly providing alcohol to underage teens and subjecting some of the underage females to sexual contact.

After numerous interviews by Inv. Andrew Wilmot, currently assigned to the Child Advocacy Center, and Inv. Chad Tangorra of the Marcy BCI Unit, Seeman was arrested on June 7 and was charged with the following crimes: one Count of third-degree Criminal Sex Act, one count of first-degree Unlawfully Dealing with a Child, one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and one count of third-degree Sexual Abuse for incidents that occurred in the Town of Paris.

He was additionally charged with one count of third-degree Sexual Abuse, one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and one count of Unlawfully Dealing with a Child for an incident that occurred in the Town of Steuben.

Seeman was arraigned in the Town of Paris Court and was committed to the Oneida County Jail on $15,000 bail for the Town of Paris incidents and $5,000 for the Town of Steuben incident.

Constantia Fire Department Inc.

Camden Fire Department

Residents who are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer firefighter should contact their local fire company for details, visit RecruitNY’s website at www.recruitny.org.

All fire companies are in need of new recruits so residents should not hesitate to contact their local fire company directly.

(Utica, NY – April 2011) Area residents and visitors are invited to attend a free Works-in-Progress Program and Reception on Monday, April 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Sculpture Space studio, 12 Gates Street, Utica, located nearby the Historic Brewery District. The reception is sponsored by Paris Hill Cat Hospital and Tom and Debra Rothwell, Paris NY. The restaurant sponsor is Symeon’s Greek Restaurant, Yorkville NY.

The community will have the opportunity to view exciting sculptural contemporary work in a wide range of media created by emerging professional visiting artists, Alberto Borea (Lima, Peru & Brooklyn, NY), Antoine Lefebvre (France & New York, NY), Keisha Luce (Franconia, NH) and Jayoung Yoon (Seoul, Korea & Brooklyn, NY). These artists have spent up to two months at Sculpture Space making new art.

“The art is original, experimental and cutting edge and always totally intriguing,” said Sydney L. Waller, Sculpture Space executive director. “The artists are articulate, inventive and delightful. They are each so different from one another, demonstrating a broad spectrum of approaches to contemporary art making. We hope the public will enjoy this glimpse into the creative process.”

About the Artists:

The newest arrival to the 35-year-old international artist residency program- that has been attracting professional artists to the Mohawk Valley since 1976- is Alberto Borea. Alberto Borea was born in Peru and has studied painting in Argentina and at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His awards include residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, ArtOmi International and the International Studio and Curatorial Studies Program. He has exhibited throughout New York, Spain, and Peru. Borea plans to construct a rainbow out of colored, plastic grocery and shopping bags while on his residency at Sculpture Space.

Antoine Lefebvre grew up in France and studied City Planning and Cinema before moving to New York in 2007. There he studied at Parsons the New School for Design where he received a Master in Fine Art in 2009. His work has been shown in various New York City galleries including Eye Level, The Kitchen, Envoy Gallery, and the Pulse Art Fair. Lefebvre’s projects stand halfway between geographic explorations and mechanical experiments that question our perception of space in the age of Internet.

Keisha Luce is from Franconia, NH and has earned her B.S. in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME and her M.A. in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College. Luce has developed documentary sculpture as a vehicle to explore social, personal and historical issues. Her current work focuses on global citizens who have been shaped and altered physically by war and conflict. Recent projects have brought her to Vietnam to explore the continuing effects of Agent Orange, and most recently to Sierra Leone, West Africa to document the mass amputations that occurred during the civil war in the 1990’s. Luce has been the recipient of a Vermont Studio Center Residency, a Dickey Center for International Understanding Award, an Ella Lyman Cabot Trust Grant, and a Reynolds Fellowship.

Jayoung Yoon was born in Seoul, Korea and earned her MFA in Painting from Hongik University in Seoul and a second MFA in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her work varies in format from video to photography, installation, and performance to deal with the perception of being present. She was awarded the Franklin Furnace Grant Fund. She has attended many Artist-in-Residence programs such as Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado, and others in Utah, Florida, New York in USA, and Argentina. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in the USA and Korea. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

About Sculpture Space:

Sculpture Space is an international artist in residence program, the only one of its kind in North America. Work created at Sculpture Space is subsequently shown in museums, sculpture parks and galleries around the globe. Sculpture Space is a recent recipient of the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award for its non-profit category.

A unique cultural resource within the City of Utica, the Mohawk Valley and Upstate New York, Sculpture Space promotes interaction between international visiting artists and the local community by placing works in the public domain, hosting studio tours, and collaborating with other organizations to exhibit artists’ projects. Several hundred artists apply annually. Twenty national and international artists are accepted each year to enjoy two-month residencies. They receive stipends, subsidized housing, 24-hour access to the studio and technical assistance. The program is in part made possible with support from the NYS Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts (which believes that a great nation deserves great art), the Milton and Sally Avery Foundation, area foundations and corporations and generous friends.

For further information, please call 315-724-8381 or visit www.sculpturespace.org.

(Utica, NY – April 2011) Area residents and visitors are invited to attend a free Works-in-Progress Program and Reception on Monday, April 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Sculpture Space studio, 12 Gates Street, Utica, located nearby the Historic Brewery District. The reception is sponsored by Paris Hill Cat Hospital and Tom and Debra Rothwell, Paris NY. The restaurant sponsor is Symeon’s Greek Restaurant, Yorkville NY.

The community will have the opportunity to view exciting sculptural contemporary work in a wide range of media created by emerging professional visiting artists, Alberto Borea (Lima, Peru & Brooklyn, NY), Antoine Lefebvre (France & New York, NY), Keisha Luce (Franconia, NH) and Jayoung Yoon (Seoul, Korea & Brooklyn, NY). These artists have spent up to two months at Sculpture Space making new art.

“The art is original, experimental and cutting edge and always totally intriguing,” said Sydney L. Waller, Sculpture Space executive director. “The artists are articulate, inventive and delightful. They are each so different from one another, demonstrating a broad spectrum of approaches to contemporary art making. We hope the public will enjoy this glimpse into the creative process.”

About the Artists:

The newest arrival to the 35-year-old international artist residency program- that has been attracting professional artists to the Mohawk Valley since 1976- is Alberto Borea. Alberto Borea was born in Peru and has studied painting in Argentina and at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His awards include residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, ArtOmi International and the International Studio and Curatorial Studies Program. He has exhibited throughout New York, Spain, and Peru. Borea plans to construct a rainbow out of colored, plastic grocery and shopping bags while on his residency at Sculpture Space.

Antoine Lefebvre grew up in France and studied City Planning and Cinema before moving to New York in 2007. There he studied at Parsons the New School for Design where he received a Master in Fine Art in 2009. His work has been shown in various New York City galleries including Eye Level, The Kitchen, Envoy Gallery, and the Pulse Art Fair. Lefebvre’s projects stand halfway between geographic explorations and mechanical experiments that question our perception of space in the age of Internet.

Keisha Luce is from Franconia, NH and has earned her B.S. in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME and her M.A. in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College. Luce has developed documentary sculpture as a vehicle to explore social, personal and historical issues. Her current work focuses on global citizens who have been shaped and altered physically by war and conflict. Recent projects have brought her to Vietnam to explore the continuing effects of Agent Orange, and most recently to Sierra Leone, West Africa to document the mass amputations that occurred during the civil war in the 1990’s. Luce has been the recipient of a Vermont Studio Center Residency, a Dickey Center for International Understanding Award, an Ella Lyman Cabot Trust Grant, and a Reynolds Fellowship.

Jayoung Yoon was born in Seoul, Korea and earned her MFA in Painting from Hongik University in Seoul and a second MFA in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her work varies in format from video to photography, installation, and performance to deal with the perception of being present. She was awarded the Franklin Furnace Grant Fund. She has attended many Artist-in-Residence programs such as Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado, and others in Utah, Florida, New York in USA, and Argentina. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in the USA and Korea. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

About Sculpture Space:

Sculpture Space is an international artist in residence program, the only one of its kind in North America. Work created at Sculpture Space is subsequently shown in museums, sculpture parks and galleries around the globe. Sculpture Space is a recent recipient of the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award for its non-profit category.

A unique cultural resource within the City of Utica, the Mohawk Valley and Upstate New York, Sculpture Space promotes interaction between international visiting artists and the local community by placing works in the public domain, hosting studio tours, and collaborating with other organizations to exhibit artists’ projects. Several hundred artists apply annually. Twenty national and international artists are accepted each year to enjoy two-month residencies. They receive stipends, subsidized housing, 24-hour access to the studio and technical assistance. The program is in part made possible with support from the NYS Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts (which believes that a great nation deserves great art), the Milton and Sally Avery Foundation, area foundations and corporations and generous friends.

For further information, please call 315-724-8381 or visit www.sculpturespace.org.

(Feb. 9, 2011) On Jan. 23 the New York State Police were contacted to investigate several criminal mischief complaints in the town of Paris and in the town of Bridgewater. As the investigation continued on Jan. 24 it was apparent that the unknown suspects had committed various crimes in three counties.

Witness accounts had described the suspect vehicle as being a small white Subaru. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Shane Y. Finch, 20, of West Winfield and Ryan G. Nicholas, 18, of Edmeston for multiple counts of felony criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

During the course of this investigation, it was revealed that Finch and Nicholas also shoplifted items from the Walmart Supercenter in New Hartford and Utica and were charged with petit larceny in each jurisdiction.

Finch was released on appearance tickets for all jurisdictions and Nicholas was remanded to the Madison County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000 bail.