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Summer in the City: Syracuse Comes to Life with Summer Festivals and Events Addition of Lakeview Amphitheater has increased number of area concerts
Clinton Square West Genesee and South Clinton Streets Syracuse, NY 13202 11:00AM – 11:00PM Admission Info: Free admission
It’s Festival time in Syracuse and Central New York. From Onondaga hill to Onondaga Lake, the area is gearing up for a busy season. The addition of the Lakeview Amphitheater is bringing over 20 big name acts to the new facility.
energy. In addition, several thousand people have moved into the downtown area delivering additional residents and customers to the center city.
Loosen' up your belts & get those tastebuds ready! The biggest food & music festival in Central New York - the Taste of Syracuse - will be kicking off the summer festival season! Enjoy two days of fabulous food & outstanding music. All food vendors will have $1 Sample items as well as regular delights. More details to follow!
From A Taste of Syracuse in June to the New York State Fair in August, the area is The headliner for Saturday evening will As it’s become cleaner, Onondaga Lake is full of events, festivals and concerts. be Cheap Trick! revisiting its historic past as a center for rd From June 3 through Labor Day the recreational activity, water skies and area is bustling with activity. Just to pleasure boats are seen in the water name a few; Taste of Syracuse 2016, daily. Additional improvements call for a 2016 Syracuse Polish Festival, Syracuse trail around the entire lake along with Juneteenth, St. Sophia's Greek Cultural additional marina’s for boats to dock. Festival, Jamesville Balloonfest, 34th Soon the lake will be cleared for recreaAnnual Syracuse M&T Jazz Fest, NYS tional use. Blues Fest 2016, AmeriCU Syracuse Arts That doesn’t include the transformative and Crafts Festival, Oswego Harborfest changes being made to the inner harbor. 2016, and capping the summer off with After decades of ownership by Congel, the “Best In Show” New York State Fair. the New York State’s Canal Corporation took control and re-bid the project and now we’ll have major construction in the city’s long forgotten Inner harbor. Friday, June 10, 2016 – Sunday, June 12, Downtown Syracuse is experiencing con2016 tinued growth in the Armory Square area and beyond as additional retail and din- Friday, June 3, 2016 – Saturday, June 4, (Continued on page 2) 2016 ing have infused the space with new
Taste of Syracuse 2016
Muhammad Ali: So Far Ahead of His Time, Athlete, Activist and American Icon
$100 Million Expansion of Foreclosure Prevention Efforts for New York Families
Expansion of Terakeet and TCG/Ascension Gaming to Create and Support More Than 450 Jobs in Downtown Syracuse
2016 Syracuse Polish Festival
Memorial Service for John A. Williams in New Jersey
Clinton Square West Genesee and South Clinton Streets Syracuse, NY 13202 Admission Info: Free admission see website for schedule This long-time annual event celebrates Polish culture bringing food, music, dance, customs, etc. to downtown Syracuse. There will be crafters and imported goods for sale as well! Syracuse Polish festival was created to continue cultivating Polish culture and supporting talented young minds, who continue to fulfill their career aspirations. All proceeds from this event will support the Polish-American Scholarship fund.
June 11: 12pm-10pm June 12: 12pm-4pm Admission Info: Free admission 43rd Annual Greek Cultural Festival, 325 Waring Rd. 13224. Join in the fun! Live music and folk dancing. Delicious gyros, spinach or cheese pita, signature Greek specialties, honey puffs, baklava, custard filled pastries, wide selection of home made pastries, and baklava sundaes. Marketplace, church tours, and on the weekend icon writing demo, Holy Site lecture, Greek wine and cheese tasting tour through Greece. Free parking, and shuttle service from CBA, J-D Middle School and Tecumseh Elementary School. For information call 315-446-5222 Rain or shine, we have you covered. OPA!
Syracuse Juneteenth 2016: st
The 151 Anniversary Celebration of Freedom, Realized
Admission Info: Free admission Art on the Porches is Saturday, JUNE 18, 2016 on Ruskin Ave in Syracuse's historic Strathmore neighborhood. ART * MUSIC * FOOD * COMMUNITY Talented Local Artists - Artists will show and sell their work in the heart of the city's historic Strathmore neighborhood. Entertainment - Some of the most talented musicians in Central New York, dance, poetry, and more... Gourmet Refreshments - A variety of delicious local and international cuisine will be available throughout the day. Play at the Hands-on Art Center! Come and create! Make your own art for free. A truly family-friendly event!!
St. Sophia's Greek Cultural Festival St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church 325 Waring Rd. Syracuse, NY 13224 Thursday, June 9, 2016 – Sunday, June 12, 2016 June 9: 5pm-9pm June 10: 5pm-10pm
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For details, please see the facebook page! June 18th, Clinton Square in Syracuse Clinton Square 1 Clinton Square Syracuse, NY 13202 As Syracuse’s 151st Anniversary Celebration of Juneteenth approaches on June 18th, we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, reaching for new heights of freedom – and equality. The entire community is invited to Juneteenth in Clinton Square on Saturday, June 18th as we commemorate, celebrate, and innovate. It’s a free, family friendly day of reflection and inspiration. You’ll enjoy a kids zone, an educational area, food court, panel discussions, live entertainment. Each year, the Syracuse community comes together in celebration of Juneteenth in Clinton Square. The entire community is invited to join in this FREE celebration featuring live entertainment, an educational area, a culturally diverse food court, the Dr. Henry A. Washington Healthy Pavilion, exhibits, and more. Admission Info: Free admission Official Website »
Art on the Porches 2016
Presented by the Greater Strathmore Neighborhood Association
Arts on Genesee Fine Arts & Craft Show Saturday, June 18, 2016 – Sunday, June 19, 2016 10:00AM – 5:00PM May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society 3800 East Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13214 Admission Info: Free admission This fine arts and crafts outdoor juried show will feature Central New York artists. The offerings include exceptional jewelry, ceramics, fiber arts, photography, sculpture, woodworking and more! The show will take place on the spacious grounds of the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist church with free parking and handicapped access. There will be a variety of food trucks to tempt your taste buds. Enjoy two days of great shopping, browsing and grazing on Saturday, June 18th and June 19th from 10 AM to 5 PM. The location is 3800 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse.
Saturday, June 18, 2016 10:00AM – 4:00PM Art On The Porches 100 Ruskin Avenue Syracuse, NY 13207
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Muhammad Ali: So Far Ahead of His Time, Athlete, Activist and American Icon Our collective hearts saddened as new of the death of Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and Boxing legend Muhammad Ali reached us. The Parkin- denied simple human rights? son’s disease had robbed him of his voice and motor No, I am not going ten thousand miles from home to skills, yet he made appearances spending his time help murder and doing good deeds burn another for others. He defied poor nation simpall odds to win the ly to continue the heavyweight chamdomination of pionship 3 times, white slave masdespite being ters of the darker banned from boxing people the world at his prime, due to over. This is the his conscientious day when such objection to the evils must come Vietnam War. to an end. I have His wit captivated been warned that audiences since to take such a they’ve never seen a man like this. He spoke, he stand would put my prestige in jeopardy and could rhymed, and he generated excitement in and outside cause me to lose millions of dollars which should acthe boxing ring. crue to me as the champion. When we look back at the life of Muhammad Ali, one can’t help but smile when remembering his razor sharp ability to speak defiantly to the cameras, “I’m a bad man” and the audience loved it. But it was not always love for the man regarded as, “The Greatest”. He characterized his disgust for the Vietnam War, while the war was popular with the American people. Muhammad Ali was drafted in 1966 and called up for induction in 1967. His refusal made it all the way to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction. At the time, Ali explained why he would not be enlisting to fight in Vietnam: “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called
But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is right here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality…
to stay away from the Vietnam conflict. But Ali sacrificed his career, his reputation and livelihood to take a stand. The Civil Rights movement began to include the Vietnam War as a major issue. Through the life of Muhammad Ali, we can observe the elements of Race, Culture and Athletics Collide. There were people who hated Ali, veterans groups and others who were not in his corner. It took years, but over time he became a beloved icon in America. A feat long achieved around the world, as possibly the most recognizable American. Then there was that stunning surprise appearance of Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Torch, during the opening ceremony in Atlanta. Suddenly, the world caught up with this sports icon whose views and stances were well before their time. He was Muslim, first through the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam and later in life becoming a Sunni Muslim.
His message became universal, more about mankind and how important love was to the world. When If I thought the war was going to asked how he would like to be remembered his reply was as follows: bring freedom and equality to “I would like to be remembered as a man who won 22 million of my the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, people they and who treated everyone right. As a man who never wouldn’t have to looked down on those who looked up to him, and who draft me, I’d join helped as many people as he could. As a man who tomorrow. But I stood up for his beliefs no matter what. As a man who either have to tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go being remembered only as a great boxer who became to jail. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years.” a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t The Vietnam War at the time was not a part of the Civil Rights Movement; in fact many wanted Dr. King
even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.”
Governor Cuomo Announces Expansion of Terakeet and TCG/Ascension Gaming to Create and Support More Than 450 Jobs in Downtown Syracuse Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Terakeet, a software development, marketing and brand strategy company, and TCG/Ascension Gaming, an online gaming marketplace, are creating and supporting more than 450 high-tech jobs in downtown Syracuse. The expansion builds on the progress of “Central New York Rising,” the region’s strategic plan to generate robust economic growth and community development. The plan was awarded $500 million through Governor Cuomo's Upstate Revitalization Initiative in December 2015. The Governor made the announcement at the grand opening of the new convention center at the Hotel Syracuse, which is currently being restored and expected to create 186 jobs. “New York has fundamentally transformed our approach to economic development through the Regional Economic Development Councils – and today, our investments are bearing fruit,” Governor Cuomo said. “From the complete renovation of the Syracuse Hotel to attracting top talent and big business to the region, this state is committed to revitalizing Central New York and strengthening the upstate economy. By harnessing this region’s unique resources, we are keeping the momentum moving forward, and driving growth and creating jobs for years to come.” Terakeet, located in downtown Syracuse, develops and enhances web visibility for their customers through an innovative technology platform called Chorus. The company has not only helped boost the web presence of numerous Internet Retailer 100 companies, startups, advocacy groups, and political campaigns, but also considers cultivating sustainable economic growth in the region as a core part of its mission. Thanks to $600,000 in funding through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, $4.3 million in performancebased Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits through Empire State Development, and $2.4 million in private investment, Terakeet will add 200 jobs at its downtown Syracuse headquarters, while retaining 150 existing jobs. These new positions focus on digital marketing, account management, sales, data analysis, web analytics and software engineering. Mac Cummings, CEO of Terakeet, said, "We are extremely lucky to have the support of New York State as we embark on our next wave of growth. We are
proud to be adding jobs in Syracuse, our home town, and are comfortable that these incentives require us to meet aggressive objectives before we benefit from them."
million in grants to construct a convention center hotel, but the project never progressed. In 2007, $1.75 million was awarded to Onondaga County through Empire State Development’s Restore NY grant for remediation and restoration of the then-vacant hotel as TCG/Ascension Gaming operates an online marketan alternative to building a new convention center place for buyers and sellers of collectible trading cards hotel. Nearly $650,000 of that grant money has been and has invested approxidisbursed and the remainder will be used mately $255,000 to expand for the hotel’s restoration. The project was and equip its office and also awarded $3.64 million by the state in warehousing operations in round four of the REDC awards for Central downtown Syracuse. The New York. Additionally, a $1.7 million grant move supports the compasecured by Assemblyman Magnarelli was ny's efforts to enter the administered to the project. To date, the international marketplace, project has received a total of $22.1 milparticularly Canada, Englion in state funding. land and Australia. As a result of this expansion, the The fully renovated hotel is expected to company is adding 42 new create 186 jobs, approximately 100 of jobs including web developers, U/I developers, cuswhich have already been filled, and open to the public tomer service representatives and fulfillments special- in July. ists, to its current workforce of 69. “The Hotel Syracuse, soon to be the Marriott Syracuse TCG/Ascension's growth was supported by $50,000 in Downtown, is part of this region’s rich history and we funding through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative are committed to restoring it to its full glory and conand $300,000 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs tinuing to attract major events, big business and tourProgram tax credits. Additionally, the company's inism to Central New York. This project, however, would ternational expansion was supported by the Global NY not have been possible without the steadfast commitinitiative, which was established by Governor Cuomo ment of Governor Cuomo, the Central New York REDC to offer one stop shopping to both foreign businesses and the support of our local elected officials. We look looking to invest in New York and to local businesses forward to completing construction in the coming who want to export globally. weeks and months, and continuing to generate growth and create jobs in Chedy Hampson, a founder and the region.” CEO of TCGplayer.com, said, “This investment by the GoverEmpire State Development nor and the Central New York President, CEO & CommisREDC has made it possible for sioner Howard Zemsky said, TCGplayer.com to develop new “We are bullish on Central technologies, create highNew York and the plan this paying jobs and attract new region has developed for talent to the region. I’m excited creating jobs and strengthto say that we’ve added the ening its economy. Since pledged 42 employees in only Governor Cuomo took six months.” office in 2011 and began focusing on fixing the UpHotel Syracuse state economy like never before, Syracuse and CenThe Hotel Syracuse, an iconic tral New York have seen a landmark located in the heart of downtown Syracuse, tremendous amount of public and private investment, is currently undergoing a major renovation project. and as a result are building an increasingly strong and After being vacant for over a decade, the newly reno- diverse economic backbone.” vated hotel will house more than 280 rooms and a state-of-the-art convention center. Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney said, “This is terrific news for Central New York and shows In 2006, Onondaga County received a total of $15 (Continued on page 5)
June FREE Classes - Institute for Caregivers (ICare) Men Can Cook (4 Sessions) Manlius Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave., Manlius June 1, 8, 15, 22 10:30 - 1:00 pm United Church of Christ, 215 Blackberry Rd., Liverpool Caregivers Need a Break! June 22 Intimacy, Sexuality & Aging 5:30 - 7:00 pm June 2 Sage Upstate, CNY Philanthropy Ctr., 431 E. Fayette 5:30 - 7:00 pm St., Syracuse Hearth on James, 830 James St., Syracuse Mindful T’ai Chi Chih Healthy Eating for Successful Living (5 Sessions) June 28 June 6, 13, 20, 27 & July 11 1:00 - 3:00 pm 9:30 – 11:30 am Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave., SyraCamillus Senior Center, 25 ½ 1st St., Camillus cuse Peter J. Headd, Executive Director, Onondaga County Office for Aging has announced the June FREE (Open to the Public) Class List for those who currently care for older or disabled persons or may become caregivers in the future:
Senior Living Options (2 Sessions) June 7 & Tours Week of 6/13 (TBA) 5:30 - 7:00 pm Brookdale Bellevue, 4330 Onondaga Blvd., Syracuse Organizing & Eliminating Excess June 14
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Registration is required by calling Cynthia at 315-4352362 Ext. 4993; Email: cstevenson@ongov.net or register on-line at: www.ongov.net/aging/icare. Sponsored by: Onondaga County Office for Aging and Alzheimer’s Association CNY Chapter
Lender Matchmaker Event at OCC June 7th Small business owners and startup entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to meet with lenders to discuss financing options for their existing or startup small business. The event will take place 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. June 7th on the Onondaga Community College campus, Academic II Building. Participation is free. to register click here
grow your small business. Over 25 banks, credit unions and alternative lending institutions will be represented.
The feedback from last year was all very positive:
Onondaga Community College Academic II Building 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215 For more information: call 315.498.6070 or email sbdc@sunyocc.edu
"Fantastic! Very resourceful and useful." "It would have taken me weeks to accomplish what I did today in one hour"
Lenders will have business relationship representa"This was awesome, please do it again" tives available to meet one on one with entrepreneurs to answer questions on how to finance to start or
growth and community development. The State has already invested nearly $3 billion in the region since we are building on the great progress this region has 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan – capitalizing seen under the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuo- on global market opportunities, strengthening entremo. We are pleased that Tarakeet and TCG/Ascension preneurship and creating an inclusive economy. Gaming are expanding in Syracuse and creating and retaining more than 450 jobs for hardworking Central New Yorkers. By leveraging our unique resources and investing in emerging industries, we are not only positioning Syracuse for growth today, but driving significant economic development down the line.” (Continued from page 4)
Accelerating Central NY Rising This announcement advances “Central NY Rising,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic
Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Syracuse, Oswego and Auburn as destinations in which to grow and invest. Now, the region is accelerating Central NY Rising with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 5,900 new jobs.
Memorial for John A. Williams: Remembering an African-American novelist, journalist, biographer, editor of books and journals, poet, and educator Williams Wrote, 1976's The Junior Bachelor Society, adapted into an ABC TV-movie, in which old friends reunite in a city that resembles John’s hometown of Syracuse, NY A Memorial celebration of John Williams life was held in New Jersey munity College in New York City, a former student of mine who wrote a chapter of her dissertation on John’s last novel, 1999's Clifford’s Blues, and published a scholarly article based on that chapter in a 2014 issue of The Journal of Narrative Theory. As for me, I am currently working on Conversations with John A. Williams, a collection of interviews with John in a variety of media–newspapers, scholarly journals, radio, television–from every decade of the second half of the 20th Century and the first decade of the 21st, which will be published by the University Press of Mississippi. And I teach John’s works in both graduate and undergraduate honors seminars. I go into these details to show how John’s writing continues to be studied, taught, and held in high esteem.
by Jeffrey A. Tucker Good afternoon. It is an honor to address this group, which has gathered to remember John A. Williams. My name is Jeffrey Tucker; I am an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Rochester, where the John A. Williams Papers are collected at Rush Rhees Library. I got to know John and Lori when I interviewed John about a dozen times in 2005 and 2006 at the suggestion of their friend and then-Director of Rare Books and Special Collections at UR, Richard Peek. I’ve been asked to say a few things about John’s professional career. Let me start by saying that I flew in last night from San Francisco where this year the American Literature
Association is holding its annual conference. On Friday, I presented on a panel entitled “Remembering John A. Williams,” which also featured a presentation from Gregory Pierrot of the University of Connecticut at Stamford, the Vice President of the African American Literature and Culture Society and the organizer of the panel, and from Heidi Bollinger of Hostos Com-
John inhabited a variety of professional identities: novelist, journalist, biographer, editor of books and journals, poet, educator, and more in a significant career in 20th-century American letters. John was featured on 26 episodes of a show on WPVI television (Continued on page 7)
(Continued from page 6)
in Philadelphia hosted by Joe Hunter, who consistently and earnestly introduced John as “America’s finest writer,” an opinion shared by writers such as Ishmael Reed and Alexs Pate. The Dictionary of Literary Biography has called John “arguably the finest AfroAmerican novelist of his generation (and) certainly the most prolific.” John published twelve novels, including 1960's One for New York, based in part on his experiences working at a vanity press in New York City; 1961's Night Song, a jazz novel that was adapted into the film Sweet Love, Bitter directed by Herbert Danska; 1963's Sissie, based partly on members of John’s family, particularly his mother; 1967's The Man Who Cried I Am, a novel about expatriate African-American writers that established John as a major figure in American literature; 1972's Captain Blackman, in which a black Army officer, wounded in Vietnam, imagines himself as a soldier in every major military conflict in American history; 1976's The Junior Bachelor Society, adapted into an ABC TV-movie, in which old friends reunite in a city that resembles John’s hometown of Syracuse, NY; 1982's !Click Song, an illuminating representation of the nitty gritty of life as an African-American writer; and Clifford’s Blues, a novel in the form of the diary of a gay black jazz pianist imprisoned in the concentration camp at Dachau during WWII, and one of John’s finest works, IMO.
John also published six works of non-fiction, including biographies of Richard Wright, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Richard Pryor, the latter of which he coauthored with his son Dennis. A play, a book of poetry, the libretto to Vanqui, an opera based on the African-American quest for freedom with music composed by Leslie Burrs, and numerous essays and scholarly articles add to John’s writerly legacy. And I must mention that among my favorite works by John is “Assess the Mess,” the spoken-word performance that opens Transform, the 2003 album by the rock group Powerman 5000, of which John and Lori’s son Adam was a member; it’s a track that exemplifies what renowned literary critic Arnold Rampersad identified as John’s aesthetic “vision”: “the purified essence of integrity at play in the social world.” in which John’s “fiction and his journalism, like that of his peers Richard Wright and Chester Himes, are both firmly grounded.”
since 1979 and served as Paul Robeson Professor since 1990.
John also worked as a journalist, particularly in American bureaus in western Africa, publishing in the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and The Nation as well as in black newspapers and periodicals. John’s writing earned him numerous awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award, the Phyllis Wheatley Award for Outstanding Contribution to African-American Culture, and an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Rochester. In 1994, John retired from Rutgers University–Newark where he had taught Journalism and Creative Writing
I’ll conclude with a short poem from Safari West, written by John, I believe, upon the passing of a friend. The image it offers suggests that things continue to shape the world even after they appear to have gone away. The poem is entitled “A Stone for Marty Scheiner.”
If I may, a personal note: My father passed away in 2001. Since that time, I have realized that one never stops needing someone in their life, usually someone older, who can provide wisdom based on experience, good-natured guidance, and encouragement when things get tough. My relationships with my elders– whether they are relatives, colleagues, or neighbors– have become increasingly important to me for this reason. In hindsight, I benefitted greatly from getting to know, and just being around, John to the extent that I did. He was an example of how to be a husband, a father, a teacher, how to overcome doubts (one’s own as well as those of others), how to keep one’s nerve, and how to take satisfaction in work well done as well as the work one is currently doing. And for all of that I am grateful.
The stone was cast into the sea Only the Ancient beheld the hole it made Silt and slugs embraced it * Sun caressed it * Life arose Around it. (1992)
Save the Rain Green Improvement Fund 2016 Application Period Is Now Open stormwater on private property.
Commercial, Business and Nonprofit Property Owners in Eligible Locations can Receive Funding to Install Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater Runoff
The GIF program is a vital component of the Save the Rain Program, Onondaga County’s comprehensive stormwater management program to reduce pollution to Onondaga Lake and its tributaries.
Boundary Map and sites are located in select areas within the City of Syracuse. Eligible commercial, business and nonprofit property owners are invited to apply for grant funding to support the installation of green Infrastructure technologies, including, but not limited to, rain gardens, green roofs, porous pavement, cisterns, underground infiltration systems, added green space and tree plantings. Since its inception, Onondaga County has provided nearly $9 million in GIF funding to local green infrastructure projects on private property. The 79 projects completed to date capture more than 38 million gallons of stormwater runoff throughout the City of Syracuse.
The Save the Rain Green Improvement Fund (GIF) is accepting new applications for green infrastructure projects on eligible private property. GIF supports the development of green infrastructure to manage
GIF grant funding offers assistance to applicants installing green infrastructure technologies as an aspect The 2016 GIF program description, application, fundof development or redevelopment in specific geoing calculator, and eligibility map are available on the graphical locations within the Clinton, Harbor Brook Save the Rain website, www.SaveTheRain.us and Midland Combined Sewersheds (CSS). Details are outlined in the Green Improvement Fund Program
University Place Promenade Project to Get Underway
cles. Traffic will be rerouted as a result, and comprehensive signage communicating detours will be prominently displayed. In addition, accessible routes will be created to ensure all community members and visitors have access to campus.
Syracuse University Announces ExtremeMakeover for Carrier Dome and Archbold Gymnasium
Syracuse University announced “The University Place Promenade Project”, which will transform University Place into a dynamic pedestrian promenade connecting Bird Library, Schine Student Center and the Newhouse School complex, will get underway in the coming weeks.
Look to new Viking’s Stadium for example of what new facility may resemble Substantial renovations to Archbold Gymnasium to create the “Arch,” a new stateof-the-art student-focused health and wellness complex; replacement of the aging Carrier Dome roof with a new fixed roof
Once complete, the project will transform the area from a congested thoroughfare into a pedestrianfriendly promenade featuring activated plazas, improved landscaping, increased ADA-accessibility and a The Syracuse University Board of Trustees has adgreater sense of physical connectedness for all mem- vanced, as part of the Campus Framework, the West bers of the campus community. Campus Project—a transformative initiative that will support academic excellence, enrich all aspects of During construction a significant portion of University student life and create a vibrant campus community. Place—from College Place to South Crouse Avenue— This news comes on the heels of more than 18 will be closed to all vehicular traffic, with the excepmonths of campus outreach, in which more than tion of police, fire, emergency and maintenance vehi-
5,000 students, faculty and staff participated in surveys and more than a dozen information sessions. The new West Campus Project will include substantial renovations to Archbold Gymnasium to create the “Arch,” a new state-of-the-art student-focused health and wellness complex; replacement of the aging Carrier Dome roof with a new fixed roof; comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-related accessibility and mobility upgrades at both facilities; and other improvements to the Dome. The Board’s action reaffirms the University’s commitment to offering a distinct student experience that includes a major oncampus athletics stadium, an exceptional health and wellness resource, and an unrivaled level of campus accessibility and safety. The Campus Framework’s key themes, vision and overarching goals have been shared with the campus and local community during the last year and a half. The University will launch the second phase of its outreach and engagement effort in the coming weeks, which will continue in earnest well into the fall 2016 semester. The University’s outreach efforts will include a new interactive website and a series of campus dialogue and feedback sessions, to further inform the campus community and create new opportunities for additional conversation and community engagement. The draft Campus Framework document, which will include conceptual renderings, site maps and other specific details, will be shared in early June with the campus community.
Urban CNY
Money
A.G. Schneiderman Announces $100 Million Expansion of Foreclosure Prevention Efforts for New York Families Dramatic Increase In Mortgage Assistance Efforts Will Enable Thousands Of New Yorkers To Save Their Homes By Clearing Small Debts That Are Preventing Them From Avoiding Foreclosure New Analysis Released Today Estimates Expansion Will Save $875 Million In Property Values for Neighboring Homeowners of Loan Recipients Schneiderman: This Investment Is Another Step In Our Effort To Help New York Families Put The Housing Crisis In The Rearview Mirror NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a $100 million expansion of efforts to provide no-interest loans to help New York families avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. The expansion, funded by the Attorney General’s April settlement with Goldman Sachs over the bank’s deceptive practices leading up to the financial crisis, is expected to help more than 3,000 families across the state pay off small debts that are preventing them from securing a needed mortgage modification. A new analysis released today by the Attorney General’s Office also showed that the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP), the first phase of these efforts, has already had a significant positive impact on families that live near a MAP loan recipient because foreclosed homes often drag down the property value of other nearby homes. According to the analysis, every $1 in loans preserves about $8.50 in property values for homeowners within 750 feet of the MAP loan recipient. Since MAP began in late 2014, the $18 million in loans given out have already preserved $153 million in property values for nearby homeowners. The new $100 million is estimated to save an additional $722 million, after accounting for administrative program costs.
keep their homes and rebuild their communities. This program is already having an incredible impact in communities throughout the state and I am excited to expand it to even more families.” Even families with reliable income streams are often denied mortgage modifications because they have a series of missed mortgage payments, delinquent second or third mortgage liens, or unpaid property tax bills which must be satisfied before a first mortgage holder will grant a modification. MAP provides loans that fill the gaps for struggling families, empowering them to negotiate with their mortgage holders and ultimately remain in their homes.
continue to commute to work on the same bus or train, and neighborhoods won’t see wellkept properties fall into the hands of banks. I’m pleased to support this program and am glad to see funding to make it possible.” MAP provides homeowners with small loans which are non-amortizing and carry no interest rate. The loans only come due upon sale of the home, refinance, death of the borrower, transfer of ownership, or mortgage maturity. MAP, which is funded through settlements with the big banks for their roles in the housing crisis, builds on the success of the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP). HOPP, a network of roughly 90 housing counselors and legal service providers to help at-risk homeowners across New York to avoid foreclosure, has already helped more than 60,000 New York families. Applicants for MAP loans must connect with a free HOPP counselor to begin the application process.
The analysis of the program, conducted by the Center For more information on how to apply for MAP loans, for NYC Neighborhoods, looked at each individual call 855-HOME-456 or visit AGScamHelp.com. recipient of a MAP loan and determined the property value preserved for every home within 750 of the loan recipient because the loan recipient had not gone into foreclosure.
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner said, “As homeowners across New York State struggle to make ends meet, this funding will supAll told, these no-interest loans are expected to preport families in their serve a total of $875 million in property values for greatest times of nearby homes by the time every loan has been disneed. By granting bursed. people the flexibility “Since taking office, my number one priority has been to stay in their getting New Yorkers the resources they need to rehomes, parents will build from the housing crisis,” Attorney General be able to keep their Schneiderman said. “This new investment in the MAP children in the same program will help thousands of New York families schools, people can
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Gates open at 3pm both days; see website for schedule for specific times The 34th annual Syracuse M&T Jazz Fest is back & is better than ever! Held on the beautiful campus of Onondaga Community College just southwest of the city of Syracuse, the Syracuse Jazz Fest is the largest free jazz festival in the northeast United States. This year's headliners are Grammy-award winning singer Michael McDonald (Saturday) and returning for a second time at Syracuse Jazz Fest is Trombone Shorty (Sunday). This will be an event not to miss! Free admission; $5 parking. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on or just stay on your feet and dance! Please see the website for details.
NYS Blues Fest 2016 Friday, July 8, 2016 – Saturday, July 9, 2016
Jamesville Balloonfest Friday, June 24, 2016 – Sunday, June 26, 2016 Jamesville Beach Park 4110 West Shore Manor Jamesville, NY 13078 Official Website » Admission Info: FREE For schedule of events, please see the website link. Mark your calendars and come celebrate the 37th annual Jamesville Balloonfest with us this summer!
34th Annual Syracuse M&T Jazz Fest Saturday, July 2, 2016 – Sunday, July 3, 2016 Onondaga Community College 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13215
At St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival, you can dance to the tunes of a live band playing traditional Arabic music, and you can also watch St. Elias' young parishioners perform the traditional Middle Eastern dance called Dabkeh. In the church hall, you will find a Souk (Arabic for marketplace) where you can find traditional Middle Eastern giftware, religious icons and many more authentic items. There is also a playground as well as games and activities geared towards kids. FREE parking. FREE admission. Festival hours are:
Clinton Square West Genesee and South Clinton Streets Syracuse, NY 13202
Thursday, July 7th from 4:00 to10:00 pm
Schedule to be announced!
Sunday, July 10th from 12 noon to 6:00 pm
Get ready for another great Blues Fest!! More details to follow ...
Friday, July 8th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm Saturday, July 9th from 12:00 noon to10:00 pm
Onondaga Cup & Lake Festival
The New York State Rhythm & Blues Festival, Inc. showcases a collection of regional and national artists from multiple genres, all with roots steeped in tradiSaturday, July 16, 2016 tion and vision, and arranges them for a continuous river of music. 11:00AM – 10:00PM
Syracuse’s kick off to summer event features balThe mission of the NYS Blues Festival is to preserve, loons, non-stop musical entertainment, arts, crafts, food, beverages and more! And this year admission is protect and promote blues music and culture. The Syracuse, NY festival entertains while educating on FREE all three days! the role of the blues in the development of popular The Balloonfest will take place from Friday, June 24thmusic in the US and around the world. Sunday, June 26th. This year’s festival will take place at Jamesville Beach, right outside of Syracuse. Balloons take flight each day (weather permitting) and add to the excitement of the event.
mention Tabouli, the staple of Middle Eastern cuisine, this salad is made of finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, onions and cracked wheat with a healthy dressing of organic extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival Thursday, July 7, 2016 – Sunday, July 10, 2016 Thursday, July 7th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm Friday, July 8th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm Saturday, July 9th from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm Sunday, July 10th from 12 noon to 6:00 pm St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 4988 Onondaga Road Syracuse, New York 13215 Admission Info: Free Admission The St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival is the place to be this July for authentic, healthy and made-fromscratch food. Our fresh food menu includes shish Kebabs (skewered beef tenderloin), Shawerma (chicken or beef wrap with tangy Tahini sauce), stuffed grape leaves and delicious homemade Hummus. Not to
Long Branch Park 3813 Longbranch Road Liverpool, NY 13088 Admission Info: General Admission: Free For more than 40 years, summer meant a regatta on Onondaga Lake. That tradition stopped in the late 1990s, but it's on a comeback this year.The Onondaga Cup & Lakefest will be July 16 on the lake and at Longbranch Park. The festival will include a regatta, and then some. There will be races, competitions, food, drink, music and a final race at night under the lights. "The rebirth of Onondaga Lake is one of the great stories in Central New York," said Tim Kennedy, Syracuse Media Group president. "This regatta will be a summer tradition that we will promote across Upstate New York." There will be corporate rowing competitions and individual races for paddleboarders and kayakers.
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The day will include competition among 32 corporate rowing teams and 50 kayakers and paddleboarders. The finalists will race in the evening under the lights.
AmeriCU Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival
While the festival will be free, there will be a ticketed event at the finish line that will include a clambake dinner, wine tastings, cooking and cocktail making demonstrations.
participatory activities. The festival is one of the premier events of ArtsWeek. The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the vitality of life in downtown Syracuse through a showcase of visual and performing arts that demonstrate diverse art forms and cultures.
Oswego Harborfest 2016
Crew teams will be from the Syracuse CHARGERS seven-week corporate rowing league, which runs from the end of May through the middle of July. For more information visit the event's website: http:// www.onondagalakefest.com/
Syracuse Nationals Classic Car Show 2016
Friday, July 29, 2016 – Sunday, July 31, 2016 Friday - 10 am to 6 pm Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm Sunday - 10 am to 5 pm
Friday, July 15, 2016 – Sunday, July 17, 2016
Admission Info: Free admission
Empire Expo Center-NYS Fairgrounds 581 State Fair Blvd. Syracuse, NY 13209
Columbus Circle East Onondaga Street Syracuse, NY 13202
Admission Info: see website for details
This spectacular 3-day showcase of the country's most talented artists, craftspeople, and entertainers is cenThe largest car show in tered on historic Columbus Circle in Downtown Syracuse. The show features more than 160 artists reprethe Northeast. Over 8,000 hot rods & custom senting 30 states and Canada. More than 50,000 visiclassic cars from all over tors will shop and browse among the art and craft the U.S. and Canada converge on the New York State exhibits and enjoy a wide variety of music, multicultural performances, summer refreshments, and Fairgrounds for a three day celebration of America's love affair with classic cars.
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Thursday, July 28, 2016 – Sunday, July 31, 2016 Breitbeck Park 1-31 Bronson Street Oswego, NY 13126 see website for schedule of events and Admission Info A 4-day long weekend celebration of food, music, boats, entertainment, fireworks, artians and craft vendor and more all at the scenic harbor of Oswego, NY! Fun for the whole family!
Plumbers & Steamfitters Recruit Apprentices Syracuse, NY (June 03, 2016) - The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Plumbers & Steamfitters, Local Union #267, will conduct a recruitment from July 05, 2016 through March 31, 2017 for five to ten plumber and steamfitter apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today. Please note that the five to ten openings listed for apprentices represent the total number for two recruitment regions – the Central and Southern Tier regions. This program’s jurisdiction includes the counties of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Schuyler, and Tompkins. Applications can be obtained and submitted, in person only, at Local Union #267, 107 Twin Oaks Drive, Syracuse, NY, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, during the recruitment period. The Committee requires that applicants: •
Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED). Proof will be required after selection and prior to in-
Leslee Terrace Road Reconstruction,Town of Geddes – Onondaga County Separate Sealed Bids will be received by the Town Clerk at the office of the Town of Geddes Town Hall, 1000 Woods Road, Solvay, New York 13209, until 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 and then at said office shall be publicly opened and read aloud. This project will consist of reconstructing Leslee Terrace between Yale Ave and Chester Street, including milling approximately 1245 square yards of existing pavement, spot repairs to sub-base, adding 12″ of sub-base to raise the road elevation in mid-block, cutting an overflow swale over the existing storm sewer, installing rain dishes in two manholes, and placing three inches of binder and one inch of top. Copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained after 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the
denture.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from various work sites and related instruction clas• Must attest in writing that they are physically ses. able to perform the work of the trade, which may include: • Must participate in an interview, if selected. o Working with sharp objects, hazardous machinery, and possible exposure to loud noises and respiratory irritants.
• Must pass a drug and alcohol screening, at the expense of the sponsor, after selection and prior to indenture.
o
Prolonged standing and walking.
o
Repeated squatting and/or bending.
• Must provide military transfer card or discharge form DD-214, if applicable, after selection and prior to indenture.
o Working in severe weather conditions and extreme temperatures. o
Working in confined spaces.
o
Working in wet and muddy conditions.
o Lifting and/or moving heavy objects and equipment. o Working off of ladders and scaffolds at various heights. • Must reside within the jurisdiction of Local Union #267, which includes the counties of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Schuyler, and Tompkins. • Must have a valid driver’s license. Apprentices may be required to drive company vehicles. Proof will be required after selection and prior to indenture. office of the Town Comptroller, 1000 Woods Road, Solvay, New York 13209; upon payment of $45.00 for each set. Mailing of Documents to prospective Bidders will cost $6.00 by separate check, which is not refundable. Any Bidder, upon returning the Contract Documents in good condition within thirty (30) days after the opening of Proposals will be returned his deposit. There will be NO REFUND for Non-Bidders. Refunds will be allowed to Contractors who return all Contract Documents in good condition, prior to the official Bid Opening.
• Must take and pass the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test. For further information, applicants should contact their nearest New York State Department of Labor office or Local Union #267 at (315) 463-6344. Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.
This project is funded in part by a grant from the Onondaga County Community Development Division. Approximately $50,000 of the project cost will be financed with federal money. Bidders will be required to commit themselves to a goal for minority business participation in this Contract. The contract specifications and drawings may be examined free of charge at the Community Development office at 1100 Civic Center, 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York 13202, (315) 435-3558.
No Bidder may withdraw his Bid within forty-five (45) Bidders should not include in their Bid, sales and days after the actual date of the opening thereof. compensating use taxes on the cost of materials Each Proposal shall be accompanied by an acceptawhich are to be incorporated into the structure. ble form of Proposal Guaranty in an amount equal to OWNER’S RIGHTS RESERVED at least five percent (5%) of the amount of the Proposal, payable to the Town of Geddes as a guaranty The Town Board of the Town of Geddes, hereinafter that if the Proposal is accepted, the Bidder will execalled the Owner, reserves the right to reject any or cute the Contract within (10) days after the Award of all proposals, and to waive any formality or technicalContract. ity in any Proposal, in the interest of the Owner.