(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.

(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.

(Utica, Yorkville, NY – Aug. 2011) The CNY Veteran’s Outreach Center and the Mohawk Valley DeMolay are teaming up to put on a Free Car Wash at the Quick Change, 4490 Commercial Dr. in Yorkville.

The wash will take place Saturday Aug. 13 from 10am to 4pm. All washes are free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

All funds raised during the car wash will be split between the DeMolay group and the Veteran’s Outreach Center’s transportation van fund.  Oil changes are not required for a free car wash.

For more information  about the car wash contact Emilie Law at the CNY Veteran’s Outreach Center at 765-0975 ext 4.

(Whitesboro, NY – July 8, 2011) On July 7 a joint investigation between the New York State Police and the Village of Whitesboro Police Department culminated in the arrest of two Whitesboro men for arson and burglary.

Jason M. Mosher, 28, of 147 Main St., Whitesboro was arrested for one count of second-degree arson and one count of third-degree burglary.

Mosher is charged with starting a fire within the occupied residence at 162 Main St., Whitesboro. He is also charged with unlawfully entering the Riverside Diner, River Road, Marcy, which is where Mosher was employed.

Mosher was arraigned in the Village of Whitesboro Court by the Hon. Patricia Gossin and remanded to the Oneida County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or $50,000 secure bond.

The state police later located James E. Jewett, Jr., 19, of 246 Main St., Whitesboro and arrested him for two counts of second-degree burglary. He is charged with breaking into the occupied dwellings at 162 Main St and 6 Park Ave., both in the Village of Whitesboro.

He was arraigned in the Village of Oriskany Court by the Hon. Christopher Clarkin and remanded to the Oneida County jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or $50,000 secure bond.

Both are due back in the Village of Whitesboro Court at noon on July 12.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Marcy State Police at 736-8802 or the Whitesboro Police at 736-1944.  The above police agencies were assisted by the village of Yorkville Police and the Whitesboro Fire Department.

(Utica, NY – June 6, 2011) The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. has announced that Whitesboro native Ben Malczyk is its 2011 Summer Fellow for Grant Evaluation.

Malczyk earned his bachelor’s degree in Marriage, Family and Human Development from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 2010. Prior to receiving his undergraduate degree, he was a missionary for his church in Recife, Brazil. He is currently enrolled in the MSW/PhD program in Social Welfare at SUNY Albany’s School of Social Welfare. He resides in Yorkville with his wife Jen and their son Robert.

In his role at The Community Foundation, Malczyk works with staff to evaluate grants recently made by The Foundation. His work allows The Community Foundation to assess the impact of its grantmaking and gain insight into its role as a resource for not-for-profit organizations and the community as a whole.

For more information about The Community Foundation, call 315-735-8212 or visit www.foundationhoc.org.

(Yorkville, NY – May 24, 2011) Over 70 employees from both Herkimer and Oneida Counties attended the Kick Off of “Get Moving Herkimer and Oneida Counties” at Function Better’s Studio 55 Elite Group Fitness Center.  “Get Moving” is the latest initiative developed by the Herkimer-Oneida Regional Health Coalition.

It is estimated that New York State will spend approximately $9.9 billion on adult obesity-related problems in 2011, and in 2006, the estimated cost of healthcare and productivity loss of New Yorkers with diabetes was more than $12.8 trillion.  In order to combat these statistics, the participants have already undergone a series of assessments including: height/weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes and heart disease risk.

At the Kick-Off, the participants were introduced to the program by Lisa Worden of the Oneida County Health Department, Oneida County Executive Tony Piecente, Executive Director Adam Hutchinson of Herkimer County HealthNet and Joe Martin of Function Better.

Participants received a free three month membership to Function Better facilities in Yorkville and Herkimer, a schedule of free Health Coaching and Group Fitness sessions and other resources to improve the participants’ nutrition and physical activity.  After the 90 day program, participants will be reassessed, and those results will be compared to the pre-assessments.

Recognizing that every dollar spent in community-based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking and other tobacco use results in a return of $5.60; all components of the program were donated from local organizations including, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, Function Better, Herkimer County HealthNet, Herkimer County, Rome Memorial Hospital, and Jim Raymer.