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Spring Into Safety – Change Your Clocks and Change Your Batteries

March 2, 2018 Steve Yablonski

The days are getting longer and the temperature is warming (except for the next couple of days). This means that Daylight Savings Time will soon begin, and New Yorkers will set their clocks forward one hour on March 11. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York urges all New Yorkers to take this opportunity check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure their homes are properly protected.

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Mayor Billy Barlow looks back at some of the highlights of 2016.

Mayor Barlow Proposes Tax Exemptions For Property Improvement Projects

March 1, 2018 Contributor

Mayor Billy Barlow announced today (March 1) his proposal to make permanent the City of Oswego Residential Home Improvement Tax Exemption, a tax break to encourage home improvement projects. The exemption, which is set to expire next month, was initiated by Barlow in 2015 as a member of the Common Council. Mayor Barlow is also proposing a new local law that provides a similar tax exemption for businesses within the city of Oswego that improve, expand or renovate their property.

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Schumer: Just-Released Administration Budget Would Jeopardize Critical Resources, Support Upstate NY Uses To Combat Drug Trafficking

March 1, 2018 Contributor

On a conference call with reporters, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer slammed a recent administration proposal that could jeopardize the future of HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), the federal drug-fighting program Upstate New York law enforcement agencies depend on to confront the mounting opioid crisis.

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Mayor Barlow Proposes $827,000 Of Road Paving In 2018, Eequipment For Road Repairs

February 28, 2018 Contributor

Mayor Billy Barlow today (February 28) unveiled his proposed 2018 paving plan for the city of Oswego. The $827,000 plan includes some major thoroughfares and high traffic areas throughout the city and will be in addition to the State Route 104 repave project conducted by the New York State Department of Transportation later this summer. Mayor Barlow also announced he will request the purchase of a large piece of additional equipment to assist with road repairs and road patching this spring to help repair city streets not identified in the paving plan.

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Oswego Animal Shelter To Receive State Funding

February 28, 2018 Contributor

The City of Oswego Municipal Shelter will receive $489,375 for the construction of an addition and renovation of the current shelter. The project will weatherize the existing facility and expand quarantine areas to improve disease control.

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Fire debris can be seen on Captain Conzone's pants.

Firefighter Cancer Foundation Donates ‘Washer’ To OFD

February 27, 2018 Steve Yablonski

The machine is worth approximately $7,000 and will help remove potentially cancer causing substances that get into the firefighters’ gear. The Gauch (washing machine) extractor is more than just a ‘washing machine.’ It removes harmful toxins from the firefighters’ turnout gear. As part of the deal, OFD will use the machine to decontaminate Fulton Fire Department’s gear as well.

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Hearings Set On Oswego Proposed Local Laws

February 26, 2018 Steve Yablonski

Mayor Billy Barlow proposed Local Law No. 1 of 2018. It would aggressively increase the enforcement, fines and penalties for property maintenance issues such as tall grass, un-shoveled sidewalks, exposed garbage and other violations. The public will have its chance to weigh in on the proposal at 7:05 p.m. March 12. A public hearing on proposed Local Law No. 2 of 2018 was also set for 7:10 p.m. on March 12. The local law would amend Chapter 249, Vacant and Occupied Property Maintenance.

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University Police Charge Oswego Resident With Felonies

February 26, 2018 Steve Yablonski

The 22-year-old was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a Class E felony; driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor; aggravated driving while intoxicated with blood-alcohol content of 0.18 or higher, an unclassified misdemeanor; speeding; unsafe lane change and uninspected motor vehicle, all infractions; and failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicle, a violation.

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John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” inspired the adoption of the poppy as the symbol of remembrance for military veterans in Great Britain, Canada, the United States, and other allied countries.

Annual Fort Ontario Conference on History and Archaeology Set April 21 – 22

February 26, 2018 Contributor

The annual Fort Ontario Conference on History and Archaeology will be held at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center, 26 E. First St., Oswego, April 21 and 22. “This conference celebrates the significance of Fort Ontario State Historic Site and the importance of this region in determining our nation’s destiny,” said David Turner, director of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.

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A memorial message at the site of the school shooting earlier this month.

Teachers: Armed Educators Not The Answer To School Violence

February 25, 2018 Steve Yablonski

In the wake of yet another deadly shooting spree at a school, president Trump has suggested arming teachers would help put an end to the carnage. The notion of arming teachers should only be considered only after all other options have been exhausted, an area teacher told OCT, and others agree. The sad truth is that very few options have been looked at or attempted in large part because of the NRA’s financial grip on the legislative branch, one area teacher said.

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