Submitted by SUNY Oswego
Martha D. Bruch, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry at SUNY Oswego and recipient of the 2010-11 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
OSWEGO — Students and colleagues rave about Dr. Martha D. Bruch’s ability to make chemistry fun, hands-on and understandable in and outside her SUNY Oswego classroom, and the State University of New York system has recognized her talents through a 2010-11 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Bruch, associate professor of chemistry at SUNY Oswego and director of its Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, received an outpouring of support for the award in the form of letters of nomination from fellow faculty members, past and present students, local secondary and elementary school teachers and students, and even an industrial scientist with whom she has worked frequently since coming to the college in 1998.
Ellen Schneider, a former student of Bruch’s and now a Marcellus High School chemistry teacher, praised Bruch’s generous gifts of time and talent in classrooms around the region.
“From a pedagogical standpoint, Dr. Bruch is an excellent teacher,” Schneider wrote. “However, there is more to her that makes her exceptional. It is what she does outside the lecture hall that truly makes Dr. Bruch an extraordinary teacher.”
Students first
A dozen letters of nomination tout Bruch’s generous and motivating spirit, with examples including:
* Liberal office hours that extended, in one instance, to several hours with a student on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, according to Dr. Joseph LeFevre, a SUNY Oswego chemistry professor and past recipient of the award. “She is always willing to go the extra mile in helping her students, whether it is in the form of extra office hours or review sessions for tests,” LeFevre wrote. “Clearly, she wants her students to succeed and she makes herself available to this end.”
* Repeated visits to off-campus classrooms, such as those at Leighton Elementary School. Wendy Ballard, a fifth-grade teacher there, said Bruch pays four or five visits to Ballard’s classroom a year. “She has a passion for chemistry that shines through in her teaching,” Ballard wrote.
* Going well beyond standard advisement to assist students, past and present, in moving forward in their lives and careers. Current graduate chemistry and master of arts in teaching student Joy Logan wrote, “Dr. Bruch goes above and beyond her responsibilities in helping me develop my academic resume. She frequently invites me to participate in demonstrations for school children.”
Everyday examples
“I am honored my colleagues nominated me,” Bruch said. “It really was their hard work that got this done. I also owe a tremendous amount to Ken Hyde, recently retired Distinguished Teaching Professor (of chemistry), who helped me in the early stages of my career, and I am grateful to him for his inspiration.”
Besides general chemistry, Bruch, who earned her Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Delaware, teaches quantum chemistry, math-heavy physical chemistry and a course in using the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory and analyzing spectrometer results. Students in all of those courses lavished praise on Bruch and her demonstrations and other teaching methods.
“Personally, physical chemistry was very difficult for me,” wrote former student Andrew M. Camelio, now a first-year graduate student in organic chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, “but I was successful in the class because Dr. Bruch used examples and relationships to help me understand the material better. The ability to teach a student better than a textbook can is the true art and role of a teacher, and Martha Bruch exemplifies this perfectly.”
Everyday examples, analogies and the uses of chemistry were themes repeated among nominators. They cited Bruch’s patience in showing a senior capstone student how to use the NMR instrument, her annual “Halloween Magic” chemistry show and more.
“Dr. Bruch has the ability to inspire her students,” LeFevre wrote. “Teaching chemistry in a creative way to a sometimes initially unreceptive audience takes a special talent. The talent itself is like a magic trick, opening hearts and minds of students to the joys of chemistry.”
LeFevre also pointed out to the SUNY Chancellor’s Award committee that Bruch has 36 scholarly publications in her career — 11 of them at SUNY Oswego, including three with student co-authors.
The Oswego County E-911 Emergency Communications Center activated its Project Lifesaver (PLS) Program on two separate occasions this past month.
When the E-911 Emergency Communications Center receives a call that someone with a PLS transmitter bracelet has wandered off, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Department Project Lifesaver Personnel and the Oswego County Search & Rescue Team are dispatched. These units are specially trained to respond with PLS receiver units that pinpoint the lost client’s location.
The first activation occurred when an 81-year-old male client with Parkinson’s disease went missing from his home. His wife took a quick look outside and, without seeing him, called the Oswego County E-911 Emergency Communications Center to report her husband missing.
They immediately dispatched the Oswego County Sheriff’s Department Project Lifesaver Personnel and the Oswego County Search and Rescue Team while the 911 call taker obtained more information from the client’s wife. When the teams arrived less than 10 minutes later, they were informed that the husband had been located.
The teams tested the accuracy of the Project Lifesaver (PLS) equipment and confirmed that the client was nearby when the receiver “chirped” out a steady signal from his radio transmitter bracelet.
The second activation came when these two teams were called out to the home of a 9-year-old child with autism who had been reported as missing from his home. The child returned on his own prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.
“Although these incidents did not require actually using the PLS equipment to locate the missing client, it was reassuring to both families and searchers that all of the agencies involved responded so quickly and were able to immediately know whether the client was in close proximity or not,” said Oswego County E-911 Director Michael Allen.
Oswego County maintains a contract with Project Lifesaver International, a not-for-profit organization that assists in the location of lost people who have Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, dementia, autism and other cognitive disorders.
“We are fortunate to be able to provide this program in Oswego County,” said Linda Lockwood, chairwoman of the Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee, “With donated funding, Project Lifesaver provides a quick response to save lives and reduce potential serious injury for residents who wander due to cognitive conditions.”
Lockwood continued, “The program provides our local law enforcement and public safety organizations with equipment, training and support while we perform the administrative duties associated with the program through our E-911 Emergency Communications Center.”
A local business recently made an anonymous donation of $900 to the Oswego County Project Lifesaver Program to purchase spare transmitters and establish a parts inventory.
“We hope that additional donations will be made in the future so that a fund can be established for those people who cannot afford the subscription cost,” added Lockwood.
Project Lifesaver training includes the use of specialized electronic search and rescue equipment as well as teaching rescuers how to communicate with individuals afflicted with these disorders, all of which are essential to a successful rescue.
Project Lifesaver works with more than 1,200 agencies across the United States, Canada and Australia. Together they have performed over 2,000 searches in the last 11 years with no serious injuries or fatalities being reported. This impressive success rate is due in part to rapid location. The average recovery time in the U.S. is just 30 minutes.
In addition to regular training, Project Lifesaver develops public outreach programs to educate others about the issue of wandering. They constantly work toward developing public policy and effective law enforcement response to help save lives and “bring loved ones home.”
The Oswego County Legislature’s Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee oversees the E-911 Office. In addition to Legislator Lockwood, the committee includes Vice Chairwoman Margaret Kastler, District 1; Shawn Doyle, District 3; Mary Flett, District 17; Kevin Gardner, District 13; John Martino, District 6; and Amy Tresidder, District 16.
For more information, call the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office at 315-349-3307 or 1-800-582-7583.
State Senator Patty Ritchie today announced that she is teaming with Central New York employers and agencies to host a Career and Resource Expo with the goal of allowing more Oswego County residents to hear the words, “You’re Hired!”
The first-of-its-kind event will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 2 pm to 6 pm, at the Fulton War Memorial, on West Broadway, and will feature over 40 agencies and employers from the region, including businesses who are ready to hire.
Attendees will also be able to take advantage of workshops to help hone their job-seeking skills, including resume writing, improving your interview skills, job hunting on the Internet, career counseling, and obtain information about starting your own business.
The event is free and open to the public, and pre-registration is recommended by calling Sen. Ritchie’s Oswego office, at (315) 342-2057.
Sen. Ritchie also is encouraging additional businesses who want to participate to contact the Oswego office.
“My Career and Resource Expo will help connect people with companies that are hiring or soon could be hiring,” Senator Ritchie said. “It will also help people who need assistance with resume writing and job interviewing skills or who want to start new careers or find out about educational opportunities.”
“Whether you are just graduating from high school or college or reentering the workforce, this Expo will offer you a way to find out about opportunities in Central New York,” Senator Ritchie said.
“New York has begun to turn a corner, and our new policy of no new taxes and budget discipline is helping to put Central New Yorkers back to work. I realize that a lot more has to be done, but I am hoping that this event can help people see how the skills they’ve obtained during their careers can be adapted and used by other employers.”
Over 40 businesses and agencies have already committed to participate in the event, including Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, Entergy, LU 73 Plumbers & Steamfitters, All-Metro Health Services, Michaud Health Services, Contemporary Personnel Services, Securitas Security Services, Harbor Lights, Oswego Health, Adecco Employment, NOSCHI (Pulaski Health Center), Comforce Staffing (DeWitt), Metro Fence, Wholesale Homes, Eagle Beverage Company, Inc., Laborers Local 633, Longanberger, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sunrise Residential Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, HSBC, Dunkin Donuts, WalMart, Lowe’s (Oswego store), Oswego Industries and Pampered Chef. More are expected to be added.
Resource Expo participants will include: Oswego County Opportunities, SUNY Oswego Business Development Office, Cayuga Community College, Oswego County BOCES, Arise, Oswego County Opportunities, Oswego County Workforce New York, Oswego County Department of Social Services, Consumer Credit Counseling, Centro Bus, Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County, Catholic Charities of Oswego County and Fidelis Care New York.
The event is cosponsored by the City of Fulton, Mayor Ron Woodward, United Way, the SUNY Oswego Business Development Center, the Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Workforce of New York.
Submitted by the U. S. Army
Army Pvt. Talon J. Sotherden, National Training Center, Calif., plays the role of an Iraqi national during a training exercise. He is one of many people used as role players to give deploying units some of the most realistic deployment training the U.S. military has to offer. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
FORT IRWIN, Calif. – The tactics used by enemy combatants during war are constantly changing, and it’s up to the son of a Phoenix woman and a group of specially trained soldiers out here in the Mojave Desert to keep our deployed troops trained to recognize those ever-changing dangers.
Army Pvt. Talon J. Sotherden, son of Erin Sotherden of Main Street, Phoenix, played the role of an Iraqi national during a recent deployment rotation at the National Training Center, a sprawling Army post about the size of Rhode Island.
Sotherden is one of several role players at the 643,000 acre area designed to look and feel like a Middle Eastern country to give deploying brigades an as realistic environment as possible to practice for what they will encounter while on deployment. There are several small forward operating bases and mock towns throughout the expansive training area.
“I am playing a member of an insurgent cell for this rotation of soldiers being trained for their deployment,” said Sotherden, a 2009 graduate of John C. Birdlebough High School.
Sotherden is one of 700 full-time combat trainers who observe and control units during exercises. There are also numerous Iraqis hired to be “locals” to give the soldiers an extra sense of realism. Many of the role players and combat trainers stay in the mock towns while the units are training.
For one month the team works to train close to 5,000 soldiers in the tactics and techniques they will need based on previous experiences and lessons learned by other soldiers who have recently deployed.
“We train the soldiers in tactics that have been used in the area of responsibility so they know what they can expect,” said Sotherden, a combat engineer assigned to the 58th Civil Engineer Company, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, Calif.
For the first seven days of training, soldiers prepare for operations by practicing tactics, ensuring their equipment is working properly and building combat capabilities. For the next two weeks soldiers endure live-fire exercises, simulated mortar attacks, patrol towns and interact with locals, some friendly, some hostile, and practice force protection scenarios. All of this is done while living like they would while deployed. That includes sleeping in tents full of cots, eating one, maybe two hot meals and an MRE every day, and having little time for showers and personal hygiene.
“It is important to keep this training up to date because the soldiers need to know what tactics and equipment the enemy is currently using against us,” said Sotherden.
During the 10 training rotations each year, Sotherden and the other combat trainers simulate attacks on the combat units in training at random intervals both day and night, in the cold and heat of the desert, all with the intention of getting the soldiers conditioned to any situation they may encounter on their upcoming deployment.
“I want the soldiers who come through here to be able to know combat tactics so they can survive their deployment,” said Sotherden, who has completed six months of military service.
Sotherden and the other trainers, role-players and staff at the NTC are giving combat units the training needed to ensure that all of our military members have the skills they need to survive their deployments and complete any job they are asked to do to the best of their abilities.
Army Pvt. Talon J. Sotherden, National Training Center, Calif., plays the role of an Iraqi national during a training exercise. He is one of many people used as role players to give deploying units some of the most realistic deployment training the U.S. military has to offer. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
Members of the 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss put an engine back into a Bradley armored fighting vehicle after replacing the transmission. The team spent two weeks at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., working and living in austere conditions to prepare for an upcoming deployment to the Middle East. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
A suspected insurgent is apprehended during a raid on a building during a training scenario at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. Military members and civilians are used as role players to give units training for deployments a realistic sense of what they will encounter in the Middle East. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
A member of the 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, encounters a group of local villagers during a training scenario at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. Iraqis and other civilians are hired to bring a realistic feel to training. Many of the role players and staff live in the mock villages for the two week training exercise. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
Armored vehicles line up in a convoy to move from Madina-Jabal, a camp set up at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., to give troops a realistic environment to train for an upcoming deployment to the Middle East. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
A group of protestors gather in front of the medical building in town to show their aggravation for the lack of proper medical care during a training scenario at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The training is intended to get military members accustomed to interacting with the local people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraqi Americans are hired to play the roles of villagers in the mock towns to give an added sense of realism. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
A sand storm moves through Madina-Jabal, a forward operating base set up at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., to prepare military members for an upcoming deployment to the Middle East. The NTC gives troops the most realistic and advanced training experience available to ready them for the conditions and challenges they will face while deployed. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Griffin)
A 2010 Independence Parade float sponsored by ARISE honors Famous People with Disabilities.
Oswego, NY – Groups and individuals interested in participating in the Oswego Independence Parade on Sunday, July 3rd must get their applications in to the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce no later than June 4th. Applications are available at the Chamber office 44 E. Bridge St. or online at www.oswegofultonchamber.com.
The parade theme this year is “Back in Time” which has the participants beginning from the original starting point of the parade on the West side by the High School. The route will take them north up Liberty St. to W. Bridge St. and on Bridge St. to E. 9th St., finally finishing at Fort Ontario.
The music will start at the Fort at 5pm and will play through the fireworks. The Purple Lancers will start off with a demonstration at 5pm, followed by Donna Colton and Sam Troublemaker at 5:30pm. Mexico Brass takes the stage at 6:15pm with the Oswego High School Jazz ensemble at 7:15pm and finally the Oswego City Band at 8:15pm.
Weather Notebook For May 31, 2011
According to Oswego’s weather observer, the area received 0.31-inch of rain on May 30.
The Port City’s rainfall total for May is 4.81 inches.
For the year, the total jumped to 21.79 inches.
Submitted by the Sheriff’s Department
On May 30th 2011 at approximately 5:17 p.m. the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office responded to 55 Caster Road, in the Town of Sandy Creek, N.Y., for a motor vehicle accident. Investigation revealed that 30 year old Corey G. Reid, of 55 Caster Road, was operating a 2003 Suzuki enduro motorcycle in a field south of his residence. The motorcycle was traveling in an easterly direction in the field, approximately 100 feet from Caster Road, when the operator lost control and was ejected from the motorcycle.
He was transported from the scene, to Pulaski, by NOCA ambulance, where he was transferred to the New York State Police helicopter and transported to Upstate University Hospital. Sandy Creek Fire Department assisted with the scene.
No tickets have been issued and operator error appears to be a contributing factor. The incident is still under investigation.
Friday June 3, 2011
The Society met on April 30 and May 7 for lunch meetings in Richland. The May 7th meeting concerned the planning for the 154th Oswego County Fair exhibit at Heritage Hall.
Work on our building has resumed for the year, on June 6th Dave Jewell will begin installation of our ash hardwood floor in the northwest classroom. This will be the final piece of the renovation project that began over ten years ago in this particular room.
Our thanks go out to Entergy Corporation which through its volunteer “Community Connectors” program has awarded four grants of $750 each to us in recognition of the volunteerism of Rick Telian, Tim Bullock, Mark Wallace and Shawn Doyle. Entergy Corporation is the operator of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant in Scriba, and is a committed member of the area community supporting countless organizations with donations each year.
When this article goes to press our new AmeriCorps worker for 2011 will have been selected and will be at work. We had over a dozen applicants this year making the selection very difficult. This year’s program theme of health and fitness dictates the work to be done, and compliments our recent efforts to update our five walking/bicycle tours of the 11 towns of our region. Our worker will be heading up this project to renew and update these tours and have them available at the Pulaski Farmers Market and County Fair for the public.
The Annual Pulaski Farmers Market begins on Friday June 3 at South Park in Pulaski. Half-Shire will have a weekly table there with sales items as well as rotating exhibits such as scrapbooks and family files that will be on display. Stop by at the center of the park each week to see our volunteers.
A publication by the late George Widrig on the history of the Richland Methodist Church is being printed and will be available soon for $10. The volume is one of the many booklets compiled by George that have heretofore been unpublished. A three volume book on the history of the town of Richland, concentrating on the eastern end, is being reviewed and we hope to have that in print in the next couple years.
Our sympathy is extended to the family of the late Madelyn Hax of Pulaski, a long-time member and supporter of our organization. Madelyn was a fascinating lady with a keen wit, her card playing prowess was legendary, and was on display during our card parties of times past.
Thoughts also go out to the family of Regena Clemens Compton of Alabama, formally of Greenboro. Regena was 89 and is survived by her sister Luella Clemens Long, of Murfreesboro, TN. Who is the last member of the Melvin and Emma (Clifford) Clemens family of Greenboro. Luella is an active correspondent and family researcher of our group.
Half-Shire is now on Facebook, and periodic historical postings can punctuate your normal Facebooking….search Halfshire and “friend us”!
Half-Shire can be contacted at www.halfshire.com or halfshire@hotmail.com. Our address is P.O. 73, 1100 County Rte. 48, Richland, NY 13144.
Dear Porky & Buddy,
I have a complaint about the Humane Society. I called them up to inquire about adopting a new kitten but they didn’t have any right then and instead of offering to put me on waiting list or something, the person I spoke to (who was otherwise very nice) tried to talk me into adopting an older cat. But I don’t want an older cat! I want a cute fluffy little kitten! What’s wrong with that?
Lisa
Dear Lisa,
Where to begin? Let’s start by discussing the problem of you maybe being a little shallow. Are you still cute and fluffy? Did your parents throw you out when you hit adolescence because you weren’t cute anymore? If they did, our apologies and condolences, but assuming they didn’t what lesson did you learn? Sure, kittens are adorable, and have the power to seduce just about any animal-lover, but it’s important to remember that baby animals quickly become adults. The bottom line is that every grown up cat looking for a home used to be a baby—and that grown up cats can be every bit as sweet, cute and playful as their younger counterparts. They are certainly more interesting, just like you are now, as opposed to when you used to be cute and fluffy.
Next topic . . . laziness. Just like their human counterparts, baby animals require an extensive commitment of time and energy from their guardians. Busy schedules and work commitments prevent many Americans from being able to provide the kind of round-the-clock care that younger animals require. Adult cats are more likely to be adept with a litter box, willing to nap while you are gone, capable of keeping themselves fed, and less likely to do something stupid while your are gone. (But don’t misunderstand: Although older cats may be less demanding than kittens, that’s not to say they don’t require pet parents to be responsible and devoted—all animals require a lifelong commitment. But you knew that, didn’t you?)
In addition, adult cats are often a better choice for families with children. Bringing together young kittens and kids can be problematic, as they sometimes exhibit playful clawing, which can injure or frighten children. Kids can inadvertently be too rough with young animals. Basically you can get the worst of both worlds. Adopting a mature cat who you already know interacts well with children can be the best option. It’s hard to determine what a kitten will be like as an adult. In contrast, it’s much easier for potential adopters to get a sense of an older cat’s qualities—including size, temperament, and personality—and to make a more informed decision about what cat would be a good fit for their family.
Now let’s discuss guilt. Helping any homeless animal will always be a natural high for adopters. But those who choose to adopt an adult pet can take extra comfort in knowing that they’re giving a home to an animal who may otherwise be overlooked. As they age, cats especially tend to have an increasingly hard time finding an adoptive family. So giving an older cat a home is an act of compassion for which you get extensive bragging rights, (if you need them).
And here’s how to assuage all that guilt and save money! What could be better than that? For the entire month of June, the Oswego County Humane Society is waiving its adoption fees for all adult cats. On Saturday, June 11th at Fred Raynor Ford, Route 3 West, Fulton, NY, you can meet our “Certified Pre-Owned” better than new cats! And if you adopt a cat that day you will receive a coupon for a free oil change at Fred Raynor Ford and a coupon redeemable for $200 toward the purchase of a car at Raynor Ford.
The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County. Our office is located at 265 West First Street, Oswego, New York. Phone (315) 207-1070. Email:ochscontact@hotmail.com. Website: www.oswegohumane.org.
The Speedway will play host to the Memorial Day Weekend ‘Triple-Header’ this weekend featuring the Jim Shampine Memorial Novelis Supermodified 75, the Richie Evans Memorial Race of Champions Modified 75, and the Tony White Memorial Pathfinder Bank SBS 35.
The third annual Arts Fest will be held June 8 at Fulton War Memorial Ice Arena from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with more than 40 artists and crafters and a talent competition for ages 12 and under, 12-20 and over 20. A prize for best garage band is a new category for this year’s competiton.
Konnor Richard France was born in Oswego Hospital on May 13, 2013.
This year’s Leadership Oswego County class chose to honor our area’s older population and acknowledge all their contributions and sacrifices they have made on behalf of our community. Members of the Leadership Oswego County class collected items to help residents of area nursing homes celebrate their birthdays and make them memorable events.
Kind of like a broken record – warm and humid overnight. Low about 65. Warm and humid on Wednesday. High near 80 again.