The Eagle 01-12, 2011

FREE

Opinion 7 Around Town 9 Calendar 11 City Beat 6 Good Sports 14 Classifieds 17 January 13, 2011 Vol. 1 Issue 26

Getting Married?

Call and get your free copy of the new Wedding Planner Book.

EAGLE

CNY’s source for news, views & things to do

EAGLE (315) 434-8889

NEWSPAPERS

ext. 307

theeaglecny.com

4.75

Selling

The highest rating on a 5-point scale that have been awarded by self-proclaimed “Pizza Geek” blogger Mike.

Anthony’s Pasta Bar and NY Gianni’s Bronx Style Pizza are the only two (so far) to receive such high ratings.

Think you know where to find a fivepoint slice in Syracuse?

See how your favorite ranks at pizzageek. wordpress.com.

Look, Think, Share!

Behind the scenes, the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau makes an impression on travel writers interested in the Salt City.

Page 3.

Best Bets

 'Rent' comes to Syracuse Stage  Szozda Gallery celebrates grand opening  Feinstein channels Ol’ Blue Eyes

Page 12

“

The exciting part is sharing your interpretations and reading about what other people find in the art.”

Downtown After Dark

 Palace jams hard in January  Farcical free-for-all  Joan Vadeboncoeur remembered

Everson Museum of Art recently launched a new interactive element to its website that allows virtual visitors to view and comment on select pieces of the museum’s permanent collection. The “Look, Think, Share!” feature is available at everson.org under the “Education and Programs” tab.

Page 4

- Pam McLaughlin, curator of education and public programs at Everson Museum of Art, on the new ‘Look, Think, Share!’ feature at everson.org.

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

EAGLE THE

EAGLE

CNY’s source for news, views & things to do

CNY’s source for news, views & things to do Ami Olson Editor 434-8889 Ext. 335

editor@theeaglecny.com Classified Advertising 434-1988

David Tyler, Publisher, Ext. 302 Colleen Farley, Associate Publisher, Ext. 315 Gary Catt, Executive Editor, Ext. 330 Jennifer Wing, Managing Editor, Ext. 340 Lisa Congdon, Business Manager, Ext. 303 Office of Publication 2501 James St. Suite 100

Ad Sales

Chelsea Dorado cdorado@cnylink.com 437-6173 Ashlee Trautner atrautner@cnylink.com 434-8889 ext. 307

Eagle Newspapers is owned by Community Media Group LLC, David B. Tyler, Jr., President; Daniel E. Alexander, Vice President; John A. McIntyre, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer.

In brief

Coffee Concerts canceled

Mark Wright tribute planned for late January

Around 40 performers and speakers are on board for the tribute to the late director of the Cultural Resources Center Mark J. Wright, who died unexpectedly Nov. 12.

“Artistically Speaking: A Tribute to Mark J. Wright,” is planned for Jan. 30 to celebrate Wright’s life and the impact he had on others, particularly in the arts in Syracuse and beyond.

“There are so many stories,” co-organizer Cheryl Wilkins-Mitchell wrote in an e-mail. “Raymond Werts, my uncle, sent some remembrances he’d like to have read at the tribute about Mark as a member of his Boy Scout Troop.”

She and Vanessa Johnson are working on making the tribute a heartfelt event to honor Wright, and more details are expected this week.

Check back online at theeaglecny.com or in next week’s issue of The Eagle for more information.

The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra announced today that the “Coffee Concerts,” originally scheduled for Friday Jan. 7 and 21, have been canceled.

The concerts were planned for 11 a.m. at the Crouse Hinds Theater at the Civic Center and would have featured abridged versions of the “Schumann, Beethoven and Strauss” concerts planned for Friday and Saturday Jan. 21 and 22, which were not canceled.

“It was a noble experiment,” said Paul Brooks, interim executive director. “Many of our patrons had asked that we provide daytime concerts for the community’s classical music enthusiasts. The weekday late morning hour seemed to be ideal.

Regrettably, the response was not enough to offset the production costs of presenting these concerts.”

For refund or ticket exchange information or for other performances, call the Box Office at 424-8200.

--

Bid high, bid often

small print. HUGE SEO.

WCNY’s 16th annual Travel Auction kicks off Jan. 14 on WCNY channel 24.1, and runs from Jan. 14 to 16 and Jan. 21 to 22, from 6 p.m. to midnight each night.

The Travel Auction partners with hotels, bed and breakfasts, cruise lines and airlines to create more than 800 vacation packages up for bid. All proceeds from Travel Auction 2011 benefit the programming and services offered by WCNY. For a list of available vacations, visit wcny.org/auctions.

Bidders must be a WCNY member; call 453-2424 to join or renew.

www.DanWaterman Enterprises.com

- Ami Olson editor@theeaglecny.com

WARNING: 1-800-351-0460

07737

The hardest part about our online marketing service for your business is reading our small ad.

78447

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

Travel writers are Syracuse’s secret weapon

By Ami Olson editor@theeaglecny.com

Qualified writers inquire within

Not just anyone can get a free meal in Syracuse by offering to blog about their experience.

“We don’t welcome every writer who wants to write a story about Syracuse,” Bryant said. “We need to qualify them, and make sure they write for a publication that we want to be featured in.

In the past, Bryant and the SCVB has worked with writers for Travel Squire, Insider Magazine, Examiner.com, and Town and Country Travel.

Not to mention one of the Travel Channel’s most recognizable foodies. Bryant’s team introduced “Man V. Food” star Adam Richman to salt potatoes when he visited the area last summer. Richman and show producers had never heard of the local treat.

Everyone needs a cheerleader, someone to stand in their corner and shine a spotlight on their best features.

For the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County, that person is Danica Bryant, who leads the team responsible for showing the area in its most positive light, particularly when a travel writer is assigned a story that brings them to Syracuse.

Last year, a different travel writer visited Syracuse nearly every month; sometimes, more often. And when hundreds or thousands of readers will form an opinion of Syracuse based on one person’s experience, it’s important to leave one amazing first impression.

That’s a lot of pressure.

Behind-the-scenes cheerleader “Our goal is to put heads in beds in Onondaga County,” Bryant said of the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, funded solely through a room-occupancy tax built into hotel and motel room fees.

Bryant is the communications manager in the SCVB’s marketing department, and while handling travel writers is just one of her many tasks, it’s an important one.

When a travel writer chooses to focus on Syracuse for an assignment, it’s up to Bryant and the SCVB to show them what we are all about.

That involves a lot of homework. When a writer reaches out to the SCVB for resources, Bryant first finds out exactly what the writer wants to focus on: outdoor adventure, farm to table foods, history... whatever.

Then Bryant creates an itinerary for the writer, detailing every aspect of their visit to Syracuse, including what they will do for their assignment, and what they’ll do for fun.

In the summer, she helped Julie Zimmerman organize a horseback riding trip at Highland Falls for an adventure travel article, but since Zimmerman was interested in the local food scene, they hit the downtown eateries, too.

“It comes down to building a relationship with the writer,” Bryant said.

Sister city Sometimes, those relationships are formed with entire communities. Bryant said in her three years at the SCVB, she has traveled often to Ottawa, Ontario to promote Onondaga County as a destination.

And it’s worked.

Staffers at one television station have visited Syracuse five or six times to shop, Bryant said, and they keep coming back.

Syracuse’s relationship with Ottawa was strengthened last year when the SCVB hostDanica Bryant ed freelance writer, blogger and photographer Andrea Tomkins and her family for a weekend.

“We all had a lot of fun in Syracuse,” Tomkins said. “It was a wonderful opportunity to explore a city we’d never visited before.”

Their trip, which included a trip to the MOST, Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Dinosaur Barbeque, gave them a good feel for the city, she said. On her blog, Tomkins said she was curious about Syracuse, where her husband had often traveled for early-spring golf trips, and that her “perfect long weekend getaway” would involve taking her daughters, ages 9 and 11, back to the MOST, then a solo shopping trip at Carousel Center.

That blog post led to a contest for a trip to Syracuse, which brought another Canadian

syracuse convention and visitors bureau

Travel writer Julie Zimmerman, top left, poses with a cowboy from Hill Top Ranch on her adventure travel trip to Syracuse, while writer Adam H. Graham, above, takes a behind-the-scenes tour of Empire Brewing Company from Tim Butler, left, and owner Dave Katleski, right. family to ‘Cuse for a weekend.

“It does work, when people come here and write about it,” Bryant said.

Branding the region The success of this system relies heavily on the SCVB’s relationship with local businesses, too.

Through industry partners -- mostly hotels, restaurants and attractions throughout the greater Syracuse area who are willing to play host -- the SCVB is typically able to offer amenities for free to travel writers.

“It’s mostly free for them, but it’s invaluable for us because they’re writing an article and they’re a credible source, versus us buying advertising,” Bryant said.

Though advertising is a useful investment, too. In 2009, the SCVB hired Pickney Hugo Group to calculate how much the $357,000 spent on advertising the year prior had generated in revenue through tourism.

The study determined 36,000 trips were booked to Syracuse as a result of the market-

ing campaign, and $4.2 million was spent by visitors in Syracuse.

In 2010 the SCVB partnered for the first time with Finger Lakes Tourism Promotion Agencies to hire New York City-based public relations firm Quinn and Co. to help promote the region to travel writers.

“They help us secure these travel writers and journalists, many from New York City, and we have an organized itinerary,” Bryant said.

“It’s an organized effort” to promote the region as a whole destination; since travelers generally don’t plan trips based on county and city boundaries, promoting the region is a win-win.

“We’re working as a team to ultimately brand the region, and we all benefit,” Bryant said.

The SCVB’s home on the web is more than a resource for tourists and out-of-towners -locals can find an extensive events calendar at visitsyracuse.org.

EAGLE

Jan. 13, 2011

THE

Downtown After Dark

Cody to command Jan. 23 Jam Fest The Empire State rarely receives plaudits for its contributions to American roots music, but we’ll set the record straight on Sunday, Jan. 23, when the January Jam Fest is staged at Eastwood’s Palace Theater.

Two of New York state’s best roots’n’blues bands – the

venerable Commander Cody Band and the vanguard Professor Louie & The Crowmatix – will headline the Jam Fest also featuring ten area acts such as Isreal Hagan, Andrew Carroll, Mark Hoffmann, Los Blanrusstarby@ cos, Todd Hobin and Doug netscape.net Moncrief, the Mojo Band

Russ Tarby

and Jeff Stockham & The Jazz Police. The music will fill the theater from 1 to 8 p.m., climaxing with a 7 p.m. jam session spotlighting members of the CNY Jazz Orchestra.

Co-sponsored by Eagle Newspapers, the January Jam Fest benefits CNY Jazz Central (formerly known as the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation) which presents jazz in concert, cabaret, scholastic and festival settings.

Admission costs $15 in advance and $30 VIP tickets are on sale now by calling 4352121. Admission at the door costs $20 and VIP admission $35, ($30 for holders of CNY Jazz, JASS, WAER and student ID cards).

Cody & Crowmatix

)* +

! " # $ %

78448

! " # # #$ % & # ' ( &

Woodstock’s Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, above, shares the stage with a lineup of CNY roots and blues bands for the January Jam Fest, Sunday Jan. 23 at the Palace Theater.

Having risen to prominence as leader of Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airman in Ann Arbor, Mich. in 1967, the Commander (a.k.a. 66-year-old keyboardist George Frayne) has lived in nearby Saratoga Springs since 1997. Cody’s big hit was a cover of Charlie Ryan’s “Hot Rod Lincoln,� but the Airmen also made their own contributions to the counter-culture with songs like “Stems and Seeds Again Blues,� named one of the top 25 pot songs of all time by High Times magazine.

The Commander’s newest disc is titled “Dopers, Drunks and Everyday Losers.�

Besides being a consummate roots rocker, George Frayne is also a prodigious painter whose portraits of legendary musicians hang proudly in places such as Syracuse’s Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. A fine art raffle will be conducted at the Jam Fest, including original pieces by Commander Cody.

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix is a Woodstock-based band led by Hammond organist Aaron “Professor Louie� Hurwitz who hails from Peeksill. Each of the quintet’s members have Empire State roots, from Brooklyn to Troy. The band’s most recent release is “As The Crow Flies,� a compilation CD with new originals as well as popular songs from previous recordings.

Farcical free-for-all

If you dig slapstick, sexual innuendo and endless action, you’ll find yourself right at home at The Locker Room when Not Another Theater Co. stages “Unnecessary Farce� at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday Jan. 14 and 15.

At a Jan. 5 press preview the seven-member cast opened doors, slammed doors, wielded pistols and squirt guns, took off plenty of clothes and aimed video cameras at each other in compromising positions.

Imbecilic action is clearly playwright Paul Slade Smith’s forte, but this cast, directed by the open-minded Meghan Leigh Pearson, created decidedly colorful characters.

Casey Callaghan brings a humorous Scottish brogue to his murderous, Tartanclad Todd.

Justin Polly’s duplicitous Agent Frank draws huge laughs with a single syllable (“What!?�) as did Crystal Roupas as Officer Billie Dwyer, but her four-letter word started with “S.�

Steve Rowlands and Kathleen Egloff ably portray the milquetoast Mayor Meekly and his wickedly winsome wife.

Michael Shanahan’s bumbling Officer Eric Sheridan falls hard for Katie Deferio’s lovely Karen Brown. Deferio gamely shows her gams – and most everything else – as she negotiates between her boyfriend cop Continues on next page.

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

Downtown

From page 4 a movie at a private press screening, she brought her own ashtray and chain-smoked and various other would-be suitors and through the entire film. She was a character who knew who she was and you could take slayers.

The farce continues this weekend at it or leave it. She wore kids’ socks with imThe Locker Room, 528 Hiawatha Blvd. E., ages of rabbits or offbeat stripe patterns. on the North Side. Couples can dine and Whenever she reviewed a stage play, she’d catch the show for $55; dinner and show be up out of her seat and out the door before for singles costs $29; and tables of eight the curtain call. Her affinity for cigarettes cost $199. For show only, you pay $20. For – having out-lived its politically correctness in recent years – was celebrated nonetheless info, call 446-1461. by “Joanie’s Smoke Break,� a series of video interviews shot by Post-Standard feature writer Hart Seely.

Whenever Joan Vadeboncoeur reviewed Joan E. Vadeboncoeur died Jan. 4 at her

Joanie was our Bette Davis

Cazenovia home. She was 78. “For me, Joanie was the last of those great iconic newspaper dames I saw in the movie houses of yesteryear, and in the films she so loved she almost certainly would’ve had to have been played by the great Bette Davis,� said Frank Malfitano who worked with her on the 1986 tribute to Jimmy Van Heusen here and on the early-1990s downtown Walk of Stars. “No one else could have come close to capturing Joanie’s presence and power on screen.

She was a giant and Hollywood would’ve had to cast a giant to play her.�

Memories of Joan

“ “

We’re on

Facebook

Find out what we’re up to and tell us what you want to see in print at Facebook.com/theeaglecny

#514- 67>

Joan was a ‘I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em’ gal. I’ll never forget when she dismissed some theatre gossip with, ‘It’s what I see on that stage that matters.’ I’ve said that to myself ever since as it was an invaluable lesson and perhaps will be one of Joan’s legacies. Although sometimes intimidated by her, I loved her to pieces, and I shall sorely miss her. We have lost a great friend to theatre, and her passing truly marks the end of an era.�

- Chris Lightcap, Syracuse Talent Company, owner

) (&'#! , $ +! "' $ "& #" "'(% &

: ; ) 9 ; 1 6 / ) ;

-)+0

249

She was more than a contact at the newspaper for Eileen and me...she was a friend who loved movies and theatre. I will miss our weekly conversations and her inpact on movie going. After she stopped reviewing films, she would often come to the theatre when I ran a film through or on a weekend matinee.�

- Nat Tobin, Manlius Art Cinema, owner

# ) = -

"' % #% +#(% " '# * "

“Do you have a winning smile?�

January 21, 22 & 23 www.northeasternsportshow.com

Two NEW Attractions This Year!

+ The Great Bear Show 5 Live Black Bears!

+ Muzzy 200 Club Monster Buck Display

09553

+ 200 Exhibitors + Bwana Jim’s Wildlife Show & % $ # &%)%% #$ + Trout Pond & Archery Range & $ # #( ' # ( $ + NE Big Buck Club #% #$ ! %$ $ $ !#

# # % % $ !# + Go Mining * !# $ + Kids Casting Contest & ( " + Talons! Live Birds of Prey Friday 12pm – 9pm Saturday 9am – 7pm Sunday 9am – 5pm

$9.00 Adults $3.00 Children 6-12 Children 5 and under Free one adult admission with this ad FREE PARKING

$1.00 OFF

- (&'+ " "

(%%+ '# " "' % #% " '# (&'+ .& ( &' ' ' % * " " +'#" %( %+ ' "" % " ( &' ' $ ' $ && & $ (& % % " #' #% '*# ' $ #" ' ' &* $&' & " & "( %+ &' # & ( " $$# "'! "'

75126

NY State Fairgrounds, Syracuse

SM

#% ) & '

'.& ' ! '# &!

7; =)41, >1;0 89-=17<: 79 76/716/ >793 1:+7<6;: 5)@ =)9@ >0-6 +75*16-, >1;0 16:<9)6+- 79 C 6)6+16/ )6, +)6 67; *- +75*16-, >1;0 7;0-9 7..-9: 79 ,-6;)4 ,1:+7<6; 84)6: 1:+7<6;: ;)3-6 7.. <:<)4 )6, +<:;75)9@ .--: )=)14)*4- 76 :-4-+; :;@4-: #<*2-+; ;7 +9-,1; )8897=)4 ,-6;<9- 7..-9 *):-, 76 ) :16/4- )9+0 ):1+ 9-84)+-5-6; ,-6;<9- #-- 7.C +- .79 ,-;)14: ..-9: -?819-

A

:8-6 -6;)4 7 8<9+0):- 6-+-::)9@ 44 -6;91-: 5<:; *- 9-+-1=-, *@

8 5 #$ 76 )6<)9@

#>--8:;)3-: 1: 78-6 764@ ;7 4-/)4 9-:1,-6;: 7. ;0- .7447>16/ :;);-: ( $ ' ' " ! " $ %$ & )6, & >07 >-9- -1/0;--6 @-)9: 7. )/- 79 74,-9 *-.79- #-8;-5*-9

)6, 0)=- ) =)41, 91=-9B: 1+-6:- $7 7*;)16 7.C +1)4 9<4-: /7 ;7 :8-6 -6;)4 +75

(DJOH1HZVSDSHUV6\UDFXVH [

EAGLE

Jan. 13, 2011

THE

City beat

The dish on DISHES

Holidays were hot for downtown retailers

New community dinners pair arts projects with local microgrants to improve Syracuse

- Adam Rombel The 2010 holiday-shopping season was a strong bounce-back period for retailers as consumers boosted spending on apparel, jewelry and other items.

National retail sales, excluding autos, rose 5.5 percent for the 50-day holiday season, measured from Nov. 5 through Dec. 24, compared to the year-ago period. That’s according to the SpendingPulse report issued Dec. 27

by MasterCard Advisors, the professionalservices unit of MasterCard Worldwide.

The increase in holiday retail sales exceeded the 3.3 percent growth that the National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, had forecast on Dec. 14. And it was the biggest gain in holiday sales in five years.

Local retailers also said they saw significant improvement in the just-completed holiday period.

“It was better than last year, but last year was pretty brutal,” Kenn Kushner, owner of Kenn Kushner Designs, which sells highend handmade jewelry from its storefront in Syracuse’s Armory Square, said of the holiday season. “Jewelry buying is pretty cyclical. If they don’t buy one year, they do the next.”

Kushner said his store’s holiday sales were up about 20 to 25 percent compared to the 2009 holiday-shopping period. He was actually expecting even stronger sales. “It was OK, but wasn’t a smash,” he added.

Nationally, jewelers did well this holiday season, with sales rising 8.4 percent compared to the year-ago period, according to the SpendingPulse report.

Consumers also flocked to apparel, with sales growing 11.2 percent over the 2009 holiday-shopping period, when apparel sales fell 0.4 percent.

Kellie Misita, owner of Showoffs Boutique, a women’s clothing and accessories retailer in Armory Square, said she has not totaled her sales figures for the holiday season, but said her store received steady, strong customer traffic. That was especially the case in the final week before Christmas, with an influx of male shoppers buying gifts for the women in their lives.

“We saw a lot of men the last few days … they outnumbered the females,” Misita said.

By Ami Olson editor@theeaglecny.com

Erin Zehr/The Central New York Business Journal

Kellie Misita, owner of Showoffs Boutique, a women’s clothing and accessories retailer in Armory Square, says her store received an influx of male shoppers near the end of the holiday season.

She contended that men shoppers, who often like to do their shopping at the last minute, feel more comfortable at a smaller boutique store like Showoffs where they don’t face large crowds and can receive more personal attention.

Misita said she expects that when she’s finished tabulating her sales totals, she’ll find her sales for the full year in 2010 were higher than in 2009.

MasterCard’s SpendingPulse found that this holiday season, shoppers were clearly more confident to spend than they were in recent years, and they bought clothes, luxury goods, and did more shopping online.

“If last year’s holiday story was about gaining some stability, this year’s is about getting back to growth,” Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for SpendingPulse, said in a news release.

“The 2010 holiday period is categorized by strong year-over-year growth in apparel and continued strength in e-commerce. We also saw a noticeable return in spending in the larger ticket items, as exemplified by the solid growth in jewelry, luxury and even the furniture category.”

Adam Rombel is editor-in-chief of The Central New York Business Journal, where this article originally appeared. Reach him at arombel@cnybj.com.

Get in on the ground floor for just ten bucks.

It sounds like a scam, but it isn’t – when Salt City DISHES holds its first quarterly dinner Sunday Jan. 23, participants will consider pitches for different communitybased arts projects, then vote to fund one of the projects with a microgrant established that night from the dinner admission proceeds.

And the cost to eat, view the pitches, vote and help fund the resulting project? $10.

(Or $15; admission is on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale.)

Salt City DISHES (an acronym for Dining In. Support Happenings. Enliven Syracuse) is based on the similar Brooklyn FEAST program, created by a friend of Salt City DISHES co-founder Rachel Somerstein. The low-cost quarterly dinners double as funding sources for arts-based community projects while contributing to the overall dialogue of public art, community revitalization and civic pride.

When Somerstein relocated to Syracuse last August, she saw a similar need for funding community improvement projects with a heavy dose of public art.

As of the Jan. 10 deadline for proposals, Somerstein said eight had been submitted and another handful were expected to sneak in.

She wouldn’t hint at what the potential projects entailed – they’ll be unveiled at the dinner – but did say she had hoped they would be thoughtful and creative, “and they are.”

Somerstein said the St. Clare Theater can hold around 130 people, and she hopes to raise around $1,000 to offer to the first DISHES project.

The Salt City DISHES logo was designed But since it’s a microgrant situation, whoever wins the funding will be held account- by Damian Vallelonga of local graphic able for following through on their project. design firm Lock49.

At the next DISHES dinner in May, whoever wins this month’s monies will present their progress. If it isn’t finished, and it ought to be, they’ll have to explain why – directly to the people who helped fund their work.

The DISHES steering committee includes Somerstein and co-founders Brianna Kohlbrenner and Stasya Panova; Sara Caliva, director of Northside UP; chefs Sarah Pallo and Luke Szabo; filmmaker Courtney Rile; photographer Robyn Stockdale and Jeff York, in charge of music.

DISHES runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday Jan. 23 at St. Clare Theater, 840 N. Salina St. Tickets will be available at the door, or in advance at Craft Chemistry, Second Story Café and Sound Garden.

The menu has not been finalized yet but the food (made with donated ingredients) will be prepared by two local chefs, while Rhode Island-based folk funk band Brown Bird entertains.

If you have an idea for a DISHES project, but missed the January deadline, sent your proposal in early for the May dinner; saltcitydishes@gmail.com.

To learn more about the program, visit saltcitydishes.blogspot.com.

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

Viewpoints Our view

Crass is ‘cool’

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, we picked up the current issues of three weekly newspapers from the metro area, to see how they do what we do, down there.

The first thing we noticed was the unsavory language splattered throughout the pages of all three publications.

Not just a few of the “milder” curse words in an op-ed piece here and there, but actual F-bombs, all over the place! In movie and restaurant reviews, in news briefs, and in opinion columns. Apparently, that’s cool. (This was a few weeks after a fiery production-morning debate over our own decision to quote a local Twitter user’s “WTF” on the front page.

We couldn’t help but remember these Philly papers last week when news of the cleaned-up “Huckleberry Finn” first broke.

So we ask: are we the type of society that scrubs historically accurate dialect out of classic literature, then settles in with a stack of local lifestyle and arts publications weighed down with less than sophistacted syntax?

Of course, the “Huck Finn decision” has been met with a firestorm of criticism and it is, like the Great Bird Die-Off of 2011, more media hype than anything.

But we still wonder why the F-word is so effing popular? Why can’t we just say it is “extremely cold” outside, or “very delicious pizza,” instead of the four-letter laden alternatives?

Our assumption here is that you’d still rather read a weekly newspaper where swear words aren’t a crutch for colorful writing. But hey, if we’re wrong, just effing send us an effing e-mail and say so.

Letters policy The Eagle welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must bear a daytime telephone number, for verification purposes only. We reserve the right to edit for space, clarification or to avoid obscenity, but ideas will not be altered. Letters should be no more than 500 words long.

Letters used do not necessarily reflect the newspaper’s opinions. Anonymous letters receive no consideration.

Send letters to editor@theeaglecny.com.

Chillin’ with the Peeps I remember standing at the entrance of Pan-African Village with then-Congressman Jim Walsh as the Hillary Clinton entourage arrived. We were practically trampled by the crowd clamoring to get a glimpse of the Clintons, who were attending the annual luncheon at the New York State Fair.

Congressman Walsh Jackson had no entourage. He was standing alone observing the scene. I looked at him and chuckled as the crowd squeezed by hoping for a peek at celebrity and politics merged into the “being” of one couple.

Having a President on the fairgrounds proved to be a logistical nightmare for some. You could scan the rooftops of the buildings to see people with guns, men on the ground with special ear pieces (this was pre-Bluetooth).

It was clear to all involved that security was the main focus. How do you keep a couple safe in a crowd of 90,000 people, especially a crowd so polarized?

Our local officials are not isolated politicians who sit on the throne unseen

Ken Urban

CNY

Perspective

by human eyes. These public servants go to the grocery store and have impromptu discussions at the milk cooler with their constituents.

Senator Nancy Lorraine Hoffmann would shop at the Westcott Big M even though she was close enough to stores where she could have purchased the same items cheaper. But she was “chillin’” with the “peeps.”

Over the last decade we’ve become caught up in the 24-hour cable television news cycle, and on radio, the incessant onair yacking of angry Neo-Conservatives who want to “take their government back.”

On the other side are Liberals who want all or nothing and will lob inflammatory names like “racist” and “intolerant” if there’s any disagreement with their policies.

I recall an invitation to a party and clearly marked on all the invitations was one simple request: “leave your politics at the door.”

It’s become so nasty that many people avoid discussions about politics all together and remain silent while the political extremist bullies both sides and take control of the body–politic.

The events in Arizona on Saturday Jan. 8, 2011 should be a wakeup call, regardless

of what caused a man to assassinate public officials.

Killed were a 9-year-old girl who was a newly elected student council member and a federal judge who just stopped by to say hello to his congresswomen. Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords’ constituent services aid was also killed.

Among the injured is the Congresswomen herself, a symbol of our democracy, a member of our U.S. Congress or the House of Representatives (also called “the peoples’ house” because its members reflect changing attitudes of the public measured every two years).

The events of last year were foretelling when we were going through the so-called health care debate.

People were instructed to attend meetings only to yell and shout down members of Congress as they attempted to measure their district’s ideas for this massive bill.

The shouting has now turned into assassinations and our elected officials can no longer hangout with the “peeps” (the people). I’m afraid this is only the beginning, as a gaggle of people with issues will decide to take matters into their own hands.

EAGLE

Jan. 13, 2011

THE

Downtown Committee names top 10 of 2010

By Ami Olson editor@theeaglecny.com

The Downtown Committee’s top 10 highlights of 2010 focus on renovation, growth and development, and barbeque. You know, the basics.

Here is the DC’s list of the 10 biggest and best happenings of the last year, in no particular order: Landmark Theatre renovations begin The Landmark Theatre began its $16 million stagehouse expansion project in October, and is scheduled for completion this fall.

A larger backstage area means larger touring companies, and is expected to double the number of nights the theater is in use.

Urban Outfitters opens Urban Outfitters opened its Armory Square store, and its first CNY location, in August in the historic McArthur, Cooney and Wirth Building on Walton Street.

Downtown Revitalization Grants turn $230k into $4.2m Here are the numbers: In 2010, 16 projects were funded by $230,738 in revitaliza-

tion grants, which project to more than $4.2 million in downtown investment. An additional $225,000 was awarded to six projects currently under construction that total more than $7.1 million in downtown investment.

Downtown Farmers’ Market relocates The Downtown Farmers’ Market relocated to Clinton Square, first temporarily while its former location was renovated. But the new Clinton Square location was so well received that it became the permanent home of the Downtown Farmers’ Market.

LEED-certified buildings crop up Washington Station and the CNY Philanthropy Center joined the Jefferson Clinton Commons as LEED-Certified buildings in downtown Syracuse. Washington Station opened in August and houses O’Brien and Gere; the CNY Philanthropy Center opened in November and is the headquarters of the Central New York Community Foundation, as well as other local non-profits.

Record volunteer effort in downtown Spring clean-up efforts helped the Downtown Committee draw its largest number

of volunteers for a single event, ever. More than 500 trash bags were filled by the March 20 pre-NCAA and the April 17 Earth Day cleaning crews.

Downtown housing continues to grow The downtown housing market continued to grow in 2010, with more than 30 new downtown units completed and construction on several more residential projects have begun. The 2010 Downtown Living Tour in May drew a record 1,800 visitors to tour examples of downtown living.

Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival celebrates 40th anniversary Celebrating its 40th year in downtown Syracuse, the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival welcomed 150 artists from the U.S. and Canada, and 50,000 visitors for a three-day showcase. Ready for next year?

The 41st annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival will be Friday July 29 to Sunday July 31.

Downtown restaurants receive national attention Downtown Syracuse dining institutions Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Kitty Hoynes were

You’ve worked hard to make your house a home. Your insurance should work hard, too. Let us show you a better, affordable way to protect your home and loved ones with Erie Insurance. We’re at our best when we’re helping people.

That’s what we’ve been doing since your great-grandmother’s time. Call us. Your ERIE Agent is waiting for you.

What are

your top 10?

Tell us what events, projects, and announcements made your year in 2010, or what you hope to see in 2011.

E-mail editor@theeaglecny.com. the focus of national attention in 2010. Dinosaur was featured on the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food program, while Kitty Hoynes became the first restaurant in the country to receive “A Place of Hospitality” certificate from a national restaurant industry consultant firm.

Demolition Begins on Common Center Centro began demolition in October to prepare for the new $16 million transfer hub at the corner of Salina, Warren and Adams Streets. The new facility will feature an enclosed climate-controlled waiting area, 22 route-specific bus bays, electronic LED, and a bus loading area out of the elements.

Completion of Common Center is expected in late 2011.

1-866-953-3743

79180

Auto t Home t Business For a free quote, visit www.erieinsurance.com

S1257NY 7/09 © Erie Indemnity Company Life insurance not available in N.Y.

03021

ERIE® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, or Flagship City Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Companies not licensed in all states. Visit erieinsurance.com for details.

EAGLE

THE

Around Town

cruelty team can investigate.

Towns have asked how they can justify a surcharge for the CNY SPCA when it has nothing to do with dog licensing. Morgan has an answer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to support the animal organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to a good cause, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a not-forprofit, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supporting our programs,â&#x20AC;?

Morgan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If someone comes in and owns a dog, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be an issue. One hundred percent [will] go back to the SPCA â&#x20AC;Ś

â&#x20AC;&#x153;And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not hitting people who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have animals,â&#x20AC;? he said.

According to records from the Onondaga County Health Department, there are approximately 28,500 dog licenses issued in Onondaga County each year. If all municipalities agree to add a $2 surcharge, the CNY SPCA would exceed its $30,000 goal by approximately $17,000.

- Tami S. Zimmerman editor@eaglebulletin.com Around Town continues on next page.

Join The Fun

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Got Class

Begin a new hobby with Quick Start.

PIANO ď&#x201A;Ż ORGAN ď&#x201A;Ż KEYBOARD A revolutionary adult music method thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun and easy.

â&#x20AC;˘ 6 week classes - all materials included â&#x20AC;˘ Lowery Quick Start keyboard included

ONLY

9

$ 95

with this coupon

Piano Organ Center

77359

-" / +-/%"-* (( *" - www.pianoandorgancenter.com'REAT .ORTHERN -ALL NEAR 3%!23 s s Ask for Bob Carbone 3

!SK FOR "OB #ARBONE s WWW PIANOANDORGANCENTER COM

! 1). )+ &)/ )( # , ( $ "(), 0$-# )+ ()-# + $, , 1). ' 1 & -) !$& & " & & $' " $(,- -# , ,-), $( .,-+1 ( )&& - ,$"($!$ (!$( ( $ & )'* (, -$)( && -# & 0 !$+' )! $& '( #"' % # -)&& !+

&& )(,.&- -$)(, + !+ ( )(!$ (-$ &

#"' ' & #!! %

000 &$*,$-2*)(- +$) )'

& 0 + / (. 3 -# &))+ 3 .!! &) 0 )+% +$)+ + ,.&-, ) ()- ". + (- ,$'$& + ).- )' #)-)"+ *#, ., $( -#$, + ,-) % *#)-),

79004

3

3

Since New York stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Agriculture recently dropped the dog license program, Onondaga Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 19 towns and the city of Syracuse had to pick it up, effective Jan. 1.

For years, the CNY SPCA and the Onondaga County Health Department â&#x20AC;&#x201C; under Animal Disease Control â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have had a yearly contract to assist the non-profit with its programs. Out of an estimated $70,000, $30,000 was funded through revenue from dog licensing. But since the state dropped the program, the county doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the

$30,000, and consequently, neither does the CNY SPCA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That money is gone now,â&#x20AC;? said SPCA Executive Director Paul Morgan, adding those funds were specifically earmarked for the cruelty investigation department.

In come the city and towns: Morgan is asking that officials consider adding a $2 surcharge to their dog license fees.

Losing a hefty portion of county funding will affect its cruelty department, Morgan said, which now consists of one full-time employee and two part-timers, including Morgan.

A potential decrease in staff and services could further affect how many cases the

79731

Local control of dog licenses shortchanges CNY SPCA

Jan. 13, 2011

EAGLE

From page 9 Around Town EPA-mandated water treatment plant takes hold in Elbridge

All municipalities that receive drinking water from Skaneateles Lake — which also includes the city of Syracuse and the village and town of Skaneateles — are required by Federal law to install treatment plants by March 2012.

The newly constructed LT2 plant in Elbridge, located on Kingston Road, is the first of its kind

THE

Jan. 13, 2011 in Onondaga County.

“We decided to bite the bullet and get it done right away, so we’re ahead of the game,” said Fred Weisskopf, acting mayor of Elbridge.

“We’re the guinea pigs.”

The mandate stems from the paramecium Cryptosporidiosis, which sickened thousands of people in Rochester in 2005.

The microorganism has yet to be traced to Jordan-Elbridge.

Water systems were evaluated based on size of population serviced. Elbridge was required to treat its water because it shares a water line with the city of Syracuse.

06046

10

“If we had our own [water supply] — because we have such a small population — we would not have to do this,” said Tom King, head of public works for the village of Elbridge.

“But since we [were evaluated as] part of that population, we have to treat it.”

The project took unprecedented coordination between the villages and town, who together obtained a New York State Department of State grant totaling $600,000. Each village received $90,000 toward the project in Onondaga County Community Development grant money.

How it works

The LT2 facility in Elbridge uses two Trojan UV Swift light reactors — one of them as as a backup — to treat the estimated 40,000 cubic feet of water that comes through daily.

“It will alter the DNA so the virus or the bacteria can no longer reproduce, and then obviously it just dies,” said Trojan senior service technician Steve Birbaumer. “It doesn’t add any taste to the water,” he added, “it doesn’t change the water, there’s no by-product of using UV.”

By Ned Campbell editor@eagle-observer.com

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid PURPOSE: THE FILING OF A TARIFF REVISION TO P.S.C. 219 GAS AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE COMMISSION’S ORDER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2010 IN P.S.C. CASE NO. 08-G-0609.

TEXT: In accordance with the New York Public Service Commission’s December 21, 2010 Order in Case 08-G-0609, notice is hereby given that Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid has filed a revision to its Schedule for Gas, P.S.C. 219. On July 31, 2010 in order to mitigate bill impacts on customers, the Company submitted a Petition to combine the results of the previously approved sub-groups for Service Classification Nos. 1 and 2 for the purpose of calculating the Revenue Decoupling reconciliation surcharge or credit. The Commission approved the Company’s proposal to combine the results of the two sub-groups within Service Classification No.1 finding that the previously approved methodology produced unintentional and inappropriately skewed results. The request to combine the sub-groups for Service Classification No. 2, however, was denied. With the commission’s approval, the proposed revision and accompanying statement went into effect on January 1, 2011.

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid CE-5

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

Get out: The guide Thursday Jan. 13

turing vocalist Michael Feinstein interprets the romantic music of Ol’ Blue Eyes.

Crouse Hinds Concert Theater, Mulroy Civic Center. $. Syracusesymphony.org or 424-8200.

White Woods. Doors at 7 PM, show at 8. With Auld Lang Syne, Family Dinner and Caleb Spaulding. Westcott Theater. $10. Thewestcotttheater.com.

Trail Tales. 1 PM. Ages 3-5. Stories and walk with a naturalist. Free w/park admission. 638-2519.

Weekday Snowshoe Jaunt. 1:30 PM. Hour-long outing with a naturalist.

Beaver Lake Nature Center. $3/snowshoe rental. 638-2519.

Harry Crocker and the Saucerer’s Stove. 6:45 PM. Interactive mystery dinner theater presented by ACME Mystery Company. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St. $32.50 plus tax and tip.

Acmemystertheater.com.

Sunday Jan. 16

Friday Jan. 14

HOPE Club. 3:30-5:30 PM. Social group for teens and adults with special needs.

Northside Baptist Church, Liverpool.

243-8897.

Guided Moonlight Snowshoeing. 7 PM. Beaver Lake Nature Center. $3 snowshoe rentals. Pre-register. 638-2519.

SU Women’s Ice Hockey. 7 PM. Robert Morris University. Tennity Ice Plaza. $.

Suathletics.com or 443-2121.

Moonlight Snowshoeing and Skiing.

Until 9 PM. Rentals $3/hour. Beaver Lake Nature Center. 638-2519.

Pops Series: The Sinatra Project. 8 PM. Syracuse Symphony Orchestra featuring vocalist Michael Feinstein interprets the romantic music of Ol’ Blue Eyes.

Crouse Hinds Concert Theater, Mulroy Civic Center. $. Syracusesymphony.org or 424-8200.

Dinosaur Society. 8:30 PM. Salt City Improv Theater presents interactive comedy. Sears Wing, ShoppingTown Mall, DeWitt. $8; $6 for students. Saltcityimprov.com or 410-5471.

Saturday Jan. 15

Folksmarch. 8-11 AM. Family-friendly fun walk sponsored by the YMCA. Oneida Shores. $3.50 for adults; $1 per child. Free for first timers. 676-7366.

Abracadabra! 10 AM-8 PM. Magician Bill Gormont teaches kids tricks of the trade. Strong Museum, Rochester.

Included with admission. 585-263-270.

SU Men’s Basketball Game. Noon.

Against Cincinnati. Carrier Dome. $.

Suathletics.com or 443-2121.

Magic Circle Children’s Theatre. 12:30 PM. Interactive children’s theater featur-

The ACME Myster Company presents “Harry Crocker and the Saucerer’s Stove” Thursday at Spaghetti Warehouse. ing Sleeping Beauty. Spaghetti Warehouse, Syracuse. $5/person. Pre-register.

449-3823.

SU Women’s Ice Hockey. 2 PM. Against Robert Morris University. Tennity Ice Plaza. $. Suathletics.com or 443-2121.

Griffiths Trail Beaver Snowshoe Hike.

2-3:30 PM. Baltimore Woods. $. 673-1350.

Moonlight Snowshoeing and Skiing.

Until 9 PM. Rentals $3/hour. Beaver Lake Nature Center. 638-2519.

Syracuse Crunch Hockey. 7:30 PM. Rochester Americans. War Memorial at Oncenter. $. 473-4444.

Well-Aged Words. 8 PM. Featuring Maggi Peirce’s Tales of a Belfast Childhood. Open Hand Theater. 518 Prospect Ave, Syracuse. $20. 476-0466.

‘The Eye of the Heart Dreaming.’ 7-9 PM. Film screening followed by conversation with filmmaker Christina Carney and film participants. ArtRage Gallery, 505 Hawley Ave. Free. Artragegallery.org.

John Cadley and the Lost Boys. 8 PM. Bluegrass. Red House, 201 S. West St. $15; $12 for seniors and students. Theredhouse.org.

Pops Series: The Sinatra Project. 8 PM. Syracuse Symphony Orchestra fea-

Ski or Hike with the Dairy Princess.

Noon-3 PM. Ski or hike with the Onondaga County Dairy Court and enjoy free hot cocoa. Highland Forest. $1/person, 21 and under/free. 469-4596.

Abracadabra! Noon-5 PM. Magician Bill Gormont teaches kids tricks of the trade. Strong Museum, Rochester. Included with admission. 585-263-2700.

Sunday Showshoe Wanders. 2 PM. Brief instructional clinic on snowshoe technique followed by a short wander through the woods and wetlands. Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center.

Route 183 between Routes 13 and 69. $3/person or $12/family. 963-7286.

Sunday Musicale: Guitar and Jazz Quartet. 2 PM. Guitar and jazz quartet featuring Steve Brown, Walter White, Dino Losito and Tom Killian. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville.

Free.

Moonlight Snowshoeing and Skiing.

Until 9 PM. Rentals $3/hour. Beaver Lake Nature Center. 638-2519.

A Concert of Early Baroque Masterpieces. 4 PM. Presented by Schola Cantorum of Syracuse featuring conductor Alex Rakov. Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, 5299 Jamesville Road, DeWitt. $15; $10 for seniors and students.

Syracuse Crunch Hockey. 4 PM. Adirondack Phantoms. War Memorial at Oncenter. $. 473-4444.

The Hang with RU HA. Doors at 5 PM, show at 6. Select Sundays in January catch RU HA with special guests. Westcott Theater. $. Thewestcotttheater.com.

Monday Jan. 17

Adventure Day Camp. 9 AM-4 PM. Children ages 5-12 spend the day playing and exploring the outdoors as well as participating in indoor activities. Baltimore Woods. $. Pre-register. 673-1350.

Cocoa and Crafts. 2:30 PM. For ages 6-12. Dewitt Community Library. Free.

Pre-register. 446-3578.

Moonlight Snowshoeing and Skiing.

Until 9 PM. Rentals $3/hour. Beaver Lake Nature Center. 638-2519.

Tuesday Jan. 18

Animal Time. 10:30 AM. Animal-related story and craft for toddlers and preschoolers. Sciencenter, Ithaca. Included with admission. 607-272-0600.

Estate Planning Workshop. 5:30- 7:30 PM. Learn about the “7 Threats to Your Family Security.” Estate Planning Law Center. 5789 Widewaters Pkwy, Dewitt.

Free. Pre-register. 446-3850.

Childbirth Prep Class for Couples.

6:30-9 PM. Sponsored by Doulas of CNY. Dewitt Community Library. $80. Pre-register. 455-6MOM.

Wednesday Jan. 19

Irish storyteller Maggi Peirce tells of a childhood in Belfast in “Well-Aged Words” at the Open Hand Theater Saturday.

11

Civic Morning Musicals. 12:30 PM. Featuring Susan Crocker, piano. Hosmer Auditorium, Everson Museum of Art. Free.

Cross Country Ski Basics. 1:30-3:30 PM. Participants must bring their own skis. Beaver Lake Nature Center. $10.

638-2510.

Teen Advisory Board. 6:30-7:30 PM. Teens can provide their input on library programs and book choices. Maxwell Library, Camillus. Free. 435-3827.

EAGLE

Jan. 13, 2011

THE

12

Best Bets: Stage

‘Rent’ opens Jan. 18 If you still don’t know what Broadway blockbuster rock opera “Rent” is about, here is what you need to know: the story follows one year in the life of a group of bohemians in New York City connected by friendships, intimate relationships and chance. The show addresses love and loss, AIDS and drug use with a focus on the modern-day bohemian lifestyle. It’s emotional, powerful and immensely popular and is co-presented by Syracuse Stage and the SU Department of Drama.

For an added punch, when “Rent” opens Tuesday Jan. 18 at Syracuse Stage, the Onondaga historical Association will celebrate la vie boheme with a lobby exhibit that follows the history of Bohemianism from its origin in the 17th century through its decline in the 1800s.

“From the struggle for gay rights, through the stigma of HIV and the controversy over needle exchange and rehabilitation programs, to the establishment of artist communities and affordable, appropriate housing, the exhibit covers the local aspects of the principle subjects represented in ‘Rent,’” according to Syracuse Stage.

“Rent” runs from Jan. 18 through Feb. 13, with a slew of special promotional days and the following extras: Prologue One hour before every performance, except the Wednesday matinee, a cast

Best Bets: Music Feinstein sings Sinatra here

Expect to hear plenty of great Gershwin tunes when vocalist Michael Feinstein performs with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 14 and 15, at the Mulroy Civic Center, 411 Montgomery St., downtown.

Known as the “Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” Feinstein will sing Sinatra classics and other timeless songs by composers such as Irving Berlin, Jimmy van Heusen and Cole Porter. Feinstein’s 150-plus shows a year have included performances at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as the White House and Buckingham Palace.

Feinstein was introduced to Ira Gershwin in 1977, and he became Gershwin’s assistant for six years. Now Feinstein serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board, tasked with

member will offer an insightful and entertaining talk about the play. Supported by the Grandma Brown Foundation.

M&T Bank Pay-What-You-Can Series Watch the final dress rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. Sunday Jan. 16; $9 suggested donation, tickets available at the door one hour prior to curtain.

LGBT Pride Series Food, music and friends one hour before the 7:30 p.m. show Thursday Jan. 20.

LIVE in the Sutton Series Live music following the 8 p.m. curtain Friday Jan. 21.

Happy Hour Series Half-price bar drinks and complimentary snacks on hour before 7:30 p.m. show Thursday Jan. 27.

Welch Allyn Signed Performance Series In Memory of Susan Thompson At 3 p.m. Saturday Jan. 29.

Actor Talkback Series Following the 7 p.m. show Sunday Jan. 30.

Wednesday@1 Lecture Series At 1 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 9.

Open Caption Series At 2 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 9 and Sunday Feb. 13.

- Ami Olson editor@theeaglecny.com

ensuring the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s sound recording heritage.

Tickets prices start at $15; call 424-8200, or visit syracusesymphony.org.

Lost Boys found at Red House

John Cadley and the Lost Boys will bring their original songs, hot picking and horrible humor to the Red House for a rare local concert appearance at 8 p.m. Jan. 15.

Henry Jankiewicz on fiddle, Mark Allnatt on banjo and guitar, Ted Williams on mandolin, and John Dancks on bass. The Lost Boys have recorded two CDs, “Middle of Nowhere” and “Black Dog.” Both discs have received Syracuse Area Music Awards for Best Bluegrass Recording.

For Red House info, call 425-0405, or visit theredhouse.org.

Best Bets: Galleries

Artists show no ‘restraint’at Szozda Gallery

Szozda Gallery was featured on the cover of The Eagle back in December, but it celebrates its official grand opening when it unveils “Without Restraint” with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday Jan. 14.

The show features distinctly different works by nationally published decorative artist and painter Phil Parsons and multi-media artist Barbara Conte-Gaugel, both of whom work from studies in the Delavan Center (where Szozda Gallery is also housed).

Conte-Gaugel named the collageassemblage series on display within this show, “Remnants,” suggesting how the artist’s nostalgia for things old, rusty and ordinary combine with her desire to give her pieces “new life, one quite different from the former one, but no less important.”

For “Without Restraint,” Parsons chose pieces from three different series, “Landscape,” “Black Forest” and “Acquisitions.”

Barbara Conte-Gaugel, “Orth Drive-in,” Photography The show will be up until Feb. 6.

Szozda Gallery is located at 501 West Fayette St., in the former Delavan Gallery space. Parking and admission are free. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 579-2805.

Five artists showcased at Edgewood “Figurative Expressions” remains open at Edgewood Gallery through Feb. 18, featuring the works of five artists who approach the figure with a creative and unique vision.

The show includes sculptures by Scott Estelle and Stephen Ryan, oil paintings by Vincent Fitches and John Fitzimmons, and

Stephen Ryan’s watercolors. The five different artists express their view of the human form in sharply contrasting ways.

Edgewood Gallery is located at Edgewood Art and Frame, 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse. “Figurative Expressions” can be viewed from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Perry presents open mikes

Nasty Truth unveiled at Al’s

Marcellus songwriter Joanne Perry hosts two open mic opportunities for acoustic musicians each week, with one in Tipperary Hill.

On Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Perry runs the open mic at Driscoll’s Tipp Hill Café, 126 Milton Ave. at the corner of Ulster Street on Syracuse’s West End; 476-8637.

A bit further west, Perry hosts an acoustic open mic from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Thursdays at Creekside Books and Coffee, 35 Fennell St., in Skaneateles; 685-0379. ”These are opportunities to share your talents and presence, to make new friends, to encourage others, to try new material and to advertise yourself and your own gigs if applicable,” Perry said. “We are friendly and encouraging.”

For info, call 214-9422.

Sammy Hall of Fame guitarist Mark Hoffmann presents a new line-up of his family band, Nasty Truth, at Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, 321 S. Clinton St. from 9 to 1 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 19.

The revamped band now includes Tom Witkowski on keyboards, Kenyatta King on drums, Jeremy Allen on guitar, and the Hoffmann family -- Eva and Anna on vocals, Gus on bass, and Mark on guitar. The band is booked at Al’s (awful no longer) on the third Wednesday of each month.

Admission is free; 558-1335.

- Russ Tarby Submit “Best Bet” information for any arts or entertainment event to editor@theeaglecny.com.

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

13

Best Bets: Music (outside the city limits) Jazz guitarist Sunday in Fâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ville

A guitar and jazz quartet will perform for the Sunday Musicale hosted by the Motto Sheet Music Collection, at 2 p.m.

Jan. 16, at Fayetteville Free Libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reading room, 300 Orchard St. Admission is free.

The Guitar & Jazz Quartet features Ithaca six-stringer Steve Brown as well as Walter White, Dino Losito and Tom Killian.

The Joe Carello Quartet will perform at the library on March 6; 637-6374 ext. 328 or fayettevillefreelibrary.org.

Bells & Motley in Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;pool

The husband-and-wife folk duo known as the Bells & Motley Consort plays a free concert at 2 p.m. Sunday Jan. 1, at Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St. in the village; 457-0310 or lpl.org.

The kick-off for the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth annual Folk Music Series, Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concert will focus on British, French and Asian folk music traditions.

While familiar to most audiences for their work with Renaissance and medieval

ANDĂ&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;PRESENT

music, the Bromkas have been exploring many forms of world music over the years.

They play some truly exotic instruments such as hurdy gurdy, dulcimer, bagpipes, and Celtic Harp augmented for this concert with Chinese harp (guzheng) and fiddle (erhu), Turkish lutes (oud and baglama) Mideastern zither (kanun), and a raft of percussion.

For band info, visit bellsandmotley.com.

- Russ Tarby

Bells and Motley Consort

*ANUARYĂ&#x153;*AMĂ&#x153;&EST 0ALACEĂ&#x153;4HEATER Ă&#x153; Ă&#x153;*AMESĂ&#x153;3TREET Ă&#x153;3YRACUSE Ă&#x153;.9 3UNDAY Ă&#x153;*ANUARYĂ&#x153; Ă&#x153; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;OĂ&#x153;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x153; mĂ&#x153;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x153;P M

COMMANDER CODY BAND PROFESSOR LOUIE AND THE CROWMATIX Los Blancos ~ The Mojo Band ~ Todd Hobin & Doug Moncrief ~ Isreal Hagan ~ Mark Hoffmann ~ Andrew Carroll Trio ~ The Jazz Police ~ Jeff Stockham ~ Joe Colombo ~ John Rohde ~ Joe Carello ~ Special Guest Sit-ins!

#ONTINUOUSĂ&#x153;-USIC &INEĂ&#x153;!RTĂ&#x153;2AFFLESĂ&#x153;ANDĂ&#x153;0RIZES &LATĂ&#x153;3CREENĂ&#x153;46S #ASHĂ&#x153;"AR ADVANCE sale tickets General $15 VIP $30 Call 435-2121 to order tickets

AT THE DOOR tickets (with re-entry stamp) General $20 VIP $35 ($30 w/current CNYJAF, JASS or WAER cards)

VIP tickets include all-day access to upstairs lounge with full cash bar and cash menu, jazz jams and private balcony seating 78433

"ENEFITĂ&#x153;&OR

EAGLE

Jan. 13, 2011

THE

14

Good Sports

Crunch revamped

Trades, transactions transform Syracuse squad

By Russ Tarby

When the Syracuse Crunch returns to its home ice this Saturday night against the Rochester Amerks, it’ll be a much different team than the one which last played the War Memorial on Dec. 28.

While the Salt City’s American Hockey League team played a season-high seven road games from Dec. 29 through Jan. 14, a series of trades and player transactions has transformed the roster.

On Dec. 30, the Crunch demoted enforcer Jon Mirasty, a fan favorite, to the Elmira Jackals.

On Jan. 1, Syracuse’s parent club, the Anaheim Ducks, traded defenseman Brett Festerling to the Montreal Canadiens organization.

On Jan. 3, the Ducks sent playmaking center Nick Bonino back to Syracuse, which is a good thing because on Jan. 4 Anaheim traded Crunch top-scorer Trevor Smith to the Columbus Bluejackets for defenseman Nate Guerin.

The next day, Jan. 5, the Ducks promoted right winger Dan Sexton – arguably the

Crunch’s fastest skater – to the NHL. To take the edge off those significant losses in the offensive zone, Anaheim reassigned rookie phenom Kyle Palmieri to the Crunch after his stint with the bronze medal-winning U.S. National Juniors Team.

While Crunch Coach Mark Holick continues juggling lines to increase the team’s scoring punch, he’ll also have three recent call-ups from Elmira to fill in. The day after New Year’s left wingers Eric Lampe and Josh Brittain returned to the Crunch, and journeyman blueliner Guerin, 28, will be expected to fill in with his fists in Mirasty’s absence.

The Crunch lost two games on the road last weekend.

Despite the third two-goal performance of the season from Nathan Paetsch, Syracuse could not solve the Binghamton Senators and fell to their I-81 rivals by a 6-4 final Jan. 7, at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, snapping the Crunch’s three-game winning streak. The loss was the team’s fourth straight to Binghamton after winning the first game of the season series back on Oct. 16.

On Jan. 8, the Crunch were edged by the

syracuse crunch

Crunch defenseman Joe DiPenta (3) and goaltender J.P. Levasseur (31) couldn’t stop Albany Devil Adam Henrique’s shot Saturday night in Albany. The Crunch lost 2-1.

Albany Devils by a 2-1 score at the Times Union Center. Goalie J.P. Levasseur, making his first start in five games, denied 26 of 28 Albany shots, while Eric Lampe scored his second goal in as many nights for the Crunch in the losing effort.

Syracuse concludes its seven-game road trip Jan. 14 against the Hamilton Bulldogs in

Black Knights hold off CNS, go to 6-1

By Phil Blackwell pblackwell@cnylink.com

Were it not for a rough finish against Utica Proctor on Dec. 23, the Henninger boys basketball team might have made it through its tough early-season gauntlet without a blemish.

As it is, though, the Black Knights’ 5-1 mark is quite impressive, a run capped off on Jan. 4 when it beat defending Section III Class AA champion Cicero-North Syracuse 59-55.

So far, Henninger has defeated CBA, Fairport and CNS, plus won its fifth consecutive Mayor’s Roundball Classic with double-digit conquests of Corcoran and Fowler. And each time, it seems like a different player steps up and has a big night.

Kavon Delee did the honors against the Northstars. Delee had a season-high 21

points as he helped Henninger weather a rough opening stretch, then led the Black Knights’ second-half comeback and, for good measure, hit three key free throws in the final 11 seconds to put the game away.

In the game’s first three minutes, two starters, Tevin Chisholm and Marquies Young, both picked up two fouls. They sat most of the rest of the first half, yet Delee’s eight points helped Henninger hang in there, keeping CNS (who had beaten Utica Proctor on this same Joe Mazella Court Dec. 17 in the Peppino’s Invitational) from expanding upon its lead.

Down 29-23 early in the third quarter, Henninger turned it around with a 12-2 run, highlighted by Markel Stith’s dunk on a fast break. Not only was Henninger able to quicken the game’s tempo, it also clamped down on defense, dominating on the boards and holding Northstars standout Zach Coleman to 16 points, just nine in the last three

periods.

Henninger kept getting away, eventually leading 53-42 with 2:15 to play - but CNS wouldn’t quit. Building full-court pressure, and getting key baskets from Elliott Boyce (who finished with 12 points) and Josh Williams, the Northstars went on an 11-3 run, forcing Delee into making those late foul shots.

Helping out Delee, Tevin Chisholm got 10 of his 12 points in the second half, while Tommie Spinner had eight of his 10 points after the break and Stith finished with 11 points.

Henninger finished the week by routing Oswego 82-44, Delee again setting the pace with 18 points as the Black Knights were 6-1 going into games this week at FayettevilleManlius and Gates-Chili.

Meanwhile, Nottingham is 3-3 and Corcoran is 1-3, with Fowler 3-4 after pushing three-time defending state Class A champion Jamesville-DeWitt hard in a 67-57 defeat. In

Ontario before returning to the War Memorial at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, against Rochester and Adirondack, respectively. The home team will be wearing new orange-and-white jerseys for each of this weekend’s games. Ticket prices range between $13 and $22; 473-4444; syracusecrunch.com.

that game, former Falcon DaJuan Coleman surpassed 1,000 career points with the Red Rams.

Syracuse Academy of Science dazzled on Friday, surpassing the century mark in a 10748 romp over Manlius-Pebble Hill to improve its record to 6-1.

The Atoms, no. 16 in the latest state Class C rankings, got 35 points from Ahmet Tunali against the Trojans as Jamon Haddon got 20 points. Kaleel Johnson (16 points), Joshua Guins (13 points) and Dakeem McLain (12 points) reached double figures, too, as SAS had its lone defeat of the season Dec. 27 to Watertown IHC. Institute of Technology Central used a 62-31 win over Fabius-Pompey to improve its mark to 5-2. The Eagles, right behind SAS in the OHSL Patriot National division standings, had a deep, well-balanced attack as Saquan Dozier earned 15 points and Jebron Thomas added 11 points.

EAGLE

THE

Jan. 13, 2011

19

Home & Garden

Seneca Federal is not an average mortgage originator cades to come,” she said.

“We pride ourselves on providing the best possible products with the lowest pos-

sible lending rates. As a community bank, it is our job to increase the wealth of our members through low lending

rates and high savings rates, given the state of the economy at any given time,” according to Russo.

Why Mortgage Loans Are Better At

Seneca!

Here’s what makes Seneca Federal Savings & Loan unique

Tammy Purcell Vice President Lending

Rebecca Smith

Asst. Vice President Lending

• We provide traditional, local home town lending • We offer competitively priced mortgage rates • We respond quickly to pre-qualification requests • We don't use credit scores • Our underwriting is based on actual consumer credit history • We have two local experienced loan underwriters who assist you through the entire loan process • Our loans are often tailor-made to our customer's specific needs • We offer construction to permanent financing with one loan closing • We underwrite mortgages for purchases AND projected renovations all in one loan • We have local servicing, which is never sold • We have NO flood certification fee • We have NO underwriting fee

Call Tammy or Rebecca today at 315-638-0233 MAIN OFFICE 35 Oswego St. Baldwinsville 638-0233

... an Ethical, Local Bank!

LIVERPOOL 105 Second St. Liverpool 457-1280

NORTH SYRACUSE 201 North Main St. North Syracuse 458-6543

ONLINE

www.senecafederal.com Each depositor insured to at least $250,000

Temporarily increased from $100,000 to $250,000 through 12/31/2013

09949

“We are imbedded in our communities and want to offer mortgage originator but competitive mortit IS an average commugage, consumer and nity bank,” said Katrina commercial loan Russo, president-CEO rates for the benefit of Seneca Federal Savof our customers,” ings and Loan Associasaid Purcell. “We tion. Sound community Seneca Federal President–CEO, Katrina Russo left, and Execu- aren’t a ‘cookie cutter’ bank mortgage lending tive Vice President-CFO, Wendy Bodnar secondary mortgage practices are not the market lender. We and time-tested practice has source of problems that understand the needs have turned the economy worked well for the Associa- of our communities and want on its ear. Rather, the “big” tion, which has a foreclosure to provide a competitive prodbanks who took part in the rate near zero percent. uct.” The mortgage servicing “A low foreclosure rate is always retained by us so our sub-prime lending with less than qualified applicants is sometimes leads people to ask customers are assured they what has contributed to the me if we are risky enough with will work with us for the life downturn of the economy. such a low default rate,” said of the loan.

“It’s not all about making the president, adding that the One example of a loan a quick buck,” said Russo. low default rate has more to that is often tailor-made to “Mainstream America has to do with the rapport they have a customer’s needs is the start thinking beyond the all made with their customers construction to permanent mighty buck and remember during the underwriting pro- financing mortgage loan with what is really at the heart of this cess and less to do with not tak- one loan closing and a rate that nation, which I believe is what ing risk. “Our loans are often is determined at commitment, all communities bank’s think- tailor-made to our customer’s before the construction phase. ing boils down to. The dream specific needs and we build a This loan is popular since the of homeownership is a dream rapport with them from the rate can’t change when it ‘conwe help make happen and it beginning, indicating that we verts’ to permanent financing can be done in a conservative are on the ‘same side’. We are later and closing costs are only manner and still render posi- very thankful when a cus- paid once, upon commitment. tomer is willing to approach The risk of a higher rate later tive results to many.”

Seneca Federal is proud to us when they are having dif- after the house is constructed provide traditional, local home ficulty and before the loan is is removed. Another such town lending with competi- in default and we are able to tailor-made loan includes a tively priced mortgage rates. work with finding a solution mortgage where a customer is “We look to competitors daily, to get them through a rough purchasing a house in which in part, to decide where to time such as a job loss,” added projected renovations are price our mortgage rates,” said Purcell. At Seneca Federal you included. The purchase and Tammy Purcell, VP–lending. always have the ability to speak renovation costs are wrapped “We also respond quickly to directly with experienced into one mortgage loan. Other pre-qualification requests and loan underwriters who assist features which add to Seneca’s pride ourselves as local un- you in your mortgage loan appeal as a mortgage lender derwriters with timely com- application process from start include no flood certification mitments.” Seneca Federal to finish, including servicing fees and no underwriting fees. has never used credit scores throughout the loan.

“This culture of personalized The lending team is car- service was instilled into us as a basis for loan approval but rather base loan com- rying on with the philosophy by our predecessors, so that mitment on actual consumer of individualized lending that Seneca Federal’s continued credit history. This ‘traditional’ community banks thrive on. success is guaranteed for de“Seneca Federal Savings and Loan Association is not an average