Oswego County continues to commemorate its bicentennial with events and activities throughout the area. Kick off this month’s festivities with a grand bicentennial celebration over Independence Day weekend.
“Walt Julian’s (Ross) World, this is his ‘Forever 10 Party’ to raise (childhood) cancer awareness,” Ruth Wallace, organizer, said. Julian was in the hospital and unable to attend last year’s event. His mother, Kristi, shared the activities with him via a video chat on her phone. This year, she shared the 10-year-old’s final wishes with the hundreds that descended on Breitbeck Park. It was a simple, yet powerful, wish. “Help others.”
“I have found throughout the past four years that it is crucial not to let a number define you,” Valedictorian Jenna Ballard said. “Your class rank, grades, test scores, et cetera, do not reflect how smart you are. They do not, and should not, be taken as an indicator of how successful you can become, and do not dictate what you can and cannot do.” “My advice to this class is that whatever you choose to do, strive to be extraordinary. Be passionate, be confident, be great. There is greatness in all of us,” Jacob Gerber, salutatorian, said.
Fire hydrant testing will resume on June 27 in the Sixth Ward and continue for much of the summer and possibly into the fall. Oswego Fire Department personnel will be working on testing the flow rates of these fire hydrants, identifying maintenance issues, and painting the tops with the appropriate color coding.
Community leaders and members of the public gathered to hear of the many possible benefits of establishing a National Marine Sanctuary for a southeastern portion of Lake Ontario. The presentation came from Jeff Grey, superintendent of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Michigan, the model for what Lake Ontario’s NMS would be based on. County Administrator Phil Church, who also serves as chairman on the National Marine Sanctuary Task Force, explained the unique opportunity the area has been given as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is accepting nominations to add new National Marine Sanctuaries around the world.
Dr. Dean Goewey, Oswego City School District Superintendent, dispelled several rumors at this week’s board of education meeting – including one claiming the Education Center had been purchased by a church. The district is attempting to sell the building. However, Dr. Goewey said no school building will be closed and sold.
The Oswego City School District and the Oswego Classroom Teachers Association agreed on a new one-year contract late Tuesday. The deal includes a wage freeze, Superintendent Dr. Dean Goewey announced at the school board meeting Tuesday night. “Never in the history of our district have we had all four collective bargaining agreements ratified before the expiration of those contracts,” he said. “Never before in the history of our district have all four agreements been settled with salary freezes for all members.”
Maybe it’s not first-and-goal for the drive to restore sports in the Oswego City School District, but the effort received a huge boost Tuesday from Senator Patty Ritchie. She announced a $150,000 special grant to help rescue the sports programs that were slashed by the district in the budget process. David Gryczka, Director of P.E. and Athletics, updated the school board Tuesday night regarding the fundraising under way to help restore the sports programs.
On Sunday June 19, at approximately 4:45 a.m., State Police stopped a vehicle operating erratically on State Route 104 in the town of Oswego. Investigation at the scene revealed the operator, 19-year-old Esther B. Rubinow from 98 E. Mohawk Street Oswego, was intoxicated, police said.
Following on the heels of record State Budget increase in school aid to the Oswego City School District, Senator Patty Ritchie today (June 21) delivered more good news to students and families, in the form of a $150,000 special grant to help rescue the city schools’ sports programs that were slashed by the district.
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