OSWEGO, NY – Here’s a glimpse of the some of the news from the past 12 months.
Oswego County leaders look to avoid tax hike
The initial draft of the county’s 2018 budget called for a slight increase in spending, but officials were optimistic property tax rates would remain steady.
The $202,791,589 spending plan introduced to county legislators would hold the tax rate at the same $7.70 per $1,000 of assessed value as the 2016 and 2017 budgets. Overall spending is anticipated to increase about $3.2 million from the $199,612,920 in the 2017 plan.
“Overall we’re in a good place,” Chairman Kevin Gardner, R-New Haven, said of the budget and the county’s financial situation. “I think we need to look at it harder and make some more changes, but I think we’re in a good position.”
Gardner said despite legislators considering the budget with every decision, spending is still up and reserve funds are being used to plug holes in the budget.
“We want to keep spending down,” Gardner said, adding he’s comfortable using reserve funds “because it’s the taxpayers’ money anyway and if it’s extra we should give it back to them.”
Major increases in spending were coming from the addition of personnel in the district attorney and sheriff’s offices, “long-overdue” technology and software upgrades and health insurance costs, according to County Administrator Phil Church.
Other significant factors impacting the budget were social services expenses and the anticipated costs of state legislation raising the age of criminal responsibility.
Oswego Alumna Helping To Change World ‘One Smile At A Time’
Globally, 1 in every 700 children is born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Clefts are the leading birth defect in many developing countries and over the past 18 years, Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft organization, has been able to provide free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care to more than one million children worldwide – currently under SUNY Oswego alumna Susannah Melchior Schaefer’s leadership.
The 1990 SUNY Oswego communication graduate returned to her alma mater to present “Changing the World One Smile at a Time” on Nov. 14.
As chief executive officer of Smile Train, Schaefer leads Smile Train’s vision of expanding access to healthcare and increasing local capacity in countries in which the organization helps children with clefts.
In her Oswego talk, she shared her experience as the head of a global nonprofit organization that works in more than 85 developing countries and brought in more than $82 million in contributions, grants and gifts in 2016, according to GuideStar.
Schaefer joined Smile Train as CEO in February 2013, after serving as a member of the organization’s board for more than 10 years. During her time as CEO, Schaefer led an organizational rebrand, seeded funding for hundreds of thousands of new smiles, expanded cleft surgical training and education programs throughout the world and helped to establish organizational partnerships in Haiti and Rwanda.
Oswego Pauses To Honor Its Veterans
Port City veterans, their friends, families and others hunkered down along the west bank of the Oswego River to pay tribute to those who have gone before them – especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The crowd stood by reverently in Veterans’ Memorial Park as the appointed hour neared. The temperature was around 32 degrees, but a cold wind was blowing in off the lake, the harbinger of things to come.
Veterans’ Day is celebrated on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour; that’s when the (World War I) truce was declared, according to LTjg George Hoffman, USNSCC, of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corp Truxtun DDG-103 Division in Oswego.
A chaplain offered the Veterans’ Day prayer and the flags at the center of the park were lowered; the Oswego City flag was first. It was solemnly folded. The Prisoner Of War flag was also retired. Finally, the American flag was retired as well.
The flags were dutifully folded and presented to Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow. The mayor accepted the colors on behalf of the city.
They will be stored over the winter and then returned to their place of prominence next spring on Memorial Day.
“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to today’s ceremony and thank you for attending,” Hoffman said. “We are here to honor our service men and women and remember their sacrifices.”
He saluted the veterans present at the ceremony, pointing out, “We stand in the midst of patriots.”
Governor Cuomo Announces 21 Properties Recommended To State and National Registers Of Historic Places
Governor Andrew Cuomo on Nov. 3 announced that the New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended adding 21 properties, resources and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The nominations, which reflect the striking diversity of New York’s history, included the Oswego & Syracuse Railroad Freight House on West Utica Street.
The 1848 limestone structure is the earliest railroad building built in Oswego and one of only a few New York State rail buildings of similar age, according to Justin White, Oswego County Historian.
“I wrote the National Register nomination for the historic Oswego & Syracuse Freight House. I did it on behalf of the owner, Joe Castaldo, and the Heritage Foundation of Oswego that paid the cost,” he said.
It has passed through the NYS Register of Historic Places and is now on the fast track to Washington DC, for the National Register review, he added.
The nomination will most likely be accepted at National level, since SHPO approved it, White pointed out.
Castaldo has owned the building for many years and currently is working on plans for adaptive reuse, he said.
Colleges of Distinction Names SUNY Oswego, Cites ‘Enriching’ Experiences
Colleges of Distinction recently named SUNY Oswego to its 2017-18 listing, citing such character-building opportunities at the college as undergraduate research, a wide variety of internships and co-ops, community service and alternative breaks, intensive writing courses and tutoring, interdisciplinary programs, and an array of international learning options.
“We are honored to name SUNY Oswego as a 2017-18 College of Distinction for its continued commitment to student success,” said Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer for Colleges of Distinction, publisher of the guidebook and website for college-bound students and their parents as well as for guidance counselors and college admissions officers across the United States.
“Colleges of Distinction applauds Oswego for pushing the envelope with its up-to-date curriculum, enriching the college experience with high-impact educational practices, and providing every student with an education that stretches far beyond what’s typically required from an academic major,” he said.
Five New Oswego Councilors Elected
There are five new members of Oswego’s seven-member Common Council.
Voters elected newcomers: Sue McBrearty (D) in the First Ward, Linda DeMassi (R) in the Second Ward, Kevin Hill (R) in the Third Ward, Robert Wilmott (R) in the Fourth Ward, and Ron Tesoriero (R) in the Sixth Ward.
Two incumbents: John Gosek Jr. (R) in the Fifth Ward and Robert Corradino (R) in the Seventh Ward were re-elected.
Only three of the races were contested. Hill, Gosek, Tesoriero, Corradino were all unopposed.
Nate Emmons, current Third Ward councilor, ran a successful campaign for the District 15 seat in the County Legislature.
“I believe they will hit the ground running. I plan to meet with each councilor-elect individually before they take office to hear and discuss their priorities and goals,” Mayor Billy Barlow said. “I plan to be as helpful as I can be getting them up to speed on city issues and background information on various challenges and projects we are currently working on.”
Gosek Emerges as Oswego’s New All-Time Points Leader
It had been since 2011 since the all-time points system for Oswego Speedway’s Supermodifieds had been updated, but that changed earlier this week and the new top five provided an interesting shift as well as a new all-time points leader for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Joe Gosek, a full-time Oswego campaigner for the past 35-plus seasons, has now surpassed Eddie Bellinger Jr. as the all-time Supermodified points leader through the 2017 season. Gosek was 4th at the conclusion of 2011, but has since passed three all-time greats in Jim Shampine, Steve Gioia Jr, and Bellinger to take the lead with an astounding 32,606 career points, besting Bellinger’s 32,405.
Gosek has 44 career wins at Oswego including three Budweiser International Classic 200s, plus two track championships and several ‘Mr. Supermodified crowns’ to boot with his legendary No. 00. As of right now, it appears Gosek’s 32,600 point mark may never be broken and Joe will only add to that in 2018.
At almost 62 years-old, Gosek is still very much winning, taking his 44th win at Oswego in the 45-lap ‘Retro Night’ feature this year and he shows no signs of slowing down. “I still think I have a few more good years in me,” he said.
Growing Season Comes To An End
On November 8, the temperature in Oswego hit 28 degrees.
That was the end of the growing season in the Oswego area, according to Bill Gregway, local observer for the National Weather Service.
That was 213 days. From April 8 through November 8.
It was a long one, he said.
The average is 149 days – from April 22 to October 22.
A Message of Perseverance for Leighton Students
Gary Carpentier, an Oswego graduate and former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, paid students a visit as part of Leighton’s Exploration Friday series. He inspired students with stories of his personal journey that led him to The Voice and offered some insight to where his life’s journey might take him next.
He encouraged students to always put forth their best efforts in order to be “better and better and better.”
His message was one of perseverance.
“I never give up,” he told the students.
Despite being let go from The Voice, with 26 million people watching and listening to him sing, he feels like he was a winner because “…every performance, every song is an opportunity to improve.”
He keeps on going and keeps getting better. He feels that regardless of his past successes and failures, this moment in time is just the beginning – he is going to have to work harder to keep growing and growing because music is his life.
He says he feels lucky because “…I am loving what I do and I get to do it each and every day.”
Informational Rally Held To Encourage ‘No’ Vote on GOP’s Tax Plan
A group of concerned citizens spent their lunch hour Nov. 14 holding an informational picket outside Oswego City Hall. The nearly three dozen men and women sought to share the cons of the proposed GOP tax plan.
The group, some armed with signs, patrolled the west side of West First Street.
“I wear a couple different hats. I serve on the Oswego County Legislature but I’m also the grassroots organizer for this congressional district,” Tom Drumm explained. “I serve my local constituents. But I’m involved in this national fight.”
Speaking as a county legislature, Drumm said, “This tax plan absolutely kills the middle class in Central New York. It wipes out just about every meaningful deductible that common New Yorkers use every tax season.”
It’s important that Congress knows this and votes against the plan, he added.
That was the main reason the rally was conducted outside City Hall, the site of Congressman John Katko’s regional office.
Fred Ringwald, of We The People of Oswego, Indivisible, said he and members of his group were taking part “because we are interested in what’s important to the people of this county. This plan would hurt our pocketbooks, hurt our friends’ pocketbooks. It’s a give-away to the corporations.”
Oswego Speedway Remembers Supermodified Icon Fred Graves
The Oswego Speedway family came together to remember and honor legendary Supermodified driver, car builder, and owner Fred Graves, who passed away Nov. 16 at 71 years old.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Fred Graves, one of the all-time great drivers, car owners, and an individual who dedicated much of his life to Oswego Speedway,” said track owner John Torrese. “His legacy will be carried on for many years to come and we extend our warmest thoughts to the Graves family and their friends at this difficult time.”
Graves, a mechanical engineer from Mexico, first made his mark on Oswego back in 1968, wheeling a car built and designed by himself and brother Ron. It didn’t take this new driver very long at all to show success. Graves finished 11th in one of his first events with his family owned No. 92.
After spending his first two seasons behind the wheel of the car he built alongside his brother, Graves returned to the track in 1970 and debuted what would be the Bill Marsh owned red and blue No. 39. Graves wheeled this ride from 1970 through 1972, and drove to his first of nine Oswego victories on July 17, 1971 before returning to victory lane once more with the same car on May 27, 1972.
It was one year after Graves’ second career win that he would do what he is most famous for. Graves set out on a venture to purchase a former Mario Andretti rear engine car. He did so successfully and the Graves team got to work in enough time to debut it during the 1973 season at Oswego with Harry Brandt serving as co-owner.
That season, the Graves ride joined some half dozen rear engine cars ready for competition.
Barlow announces Re-opening of Route 48 in Oswego
Mayor Billy Barlow announced the re-opening of State Route 48 in the city of Oswego. In February of 2016, State Route 48 suffered damage from a major road collapse near the Route 48 and Munn Street intersection. The road was temporarily closed but re-opened as a one way only, Southbound street for the summer of 2016.
The road had been closed since the middle of August when construction on the approximately $1.7 million project started.
The project had been completed and Route 48 was set to open slightly ahead of schedule as the initial timeline indicated a completion date of December 1.
“I’m thrilled to get this project done ahead of schedule and finally be able to safely open the road to vehicular traffic again,” Mayor Barlow said. “I appreciate the patience of the residents in that area and the motorists who regularly use that route in and out of town. The detour was lengthy and extremely inconvenient but through negotiations we were able to save the city of Oswego roughly $1.5 million by deciding to wait to receive funding from the Federal and State government. I applaud the New York State Department of Transportation and Director of Planning and Management Mark Frechette for helping the city of Oswego secure funding for this project and the significant amount of assistance they provided us throughout this entire project.”
The Port City Welcomes ‘Elvis’ and Santa For The Holidays
With temperatures in the upper 40s, visits from “Elvis” and Santa Claus himself made the Port City’s 2017 “An Oswego Christmas” holiday tree lighting a truly magical event. The chilly misty sporadic rain showers did little to dampen anyone’s spirits.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Oswego; except, of course, for the lack of snow, and no one is really complaining about that. The Port City officially lit up for the holidays.
Hundreds of people throughout the day enjoyed the community-wide, all-day event that welcomed the holiday season in Oswego at myriad locations. The 30th annual event featured a variety of events and vendors, children’s activities, food and holiday music. Many families lined up outside City Hall hours early to await Santa Claus’ arrival.
Nearby, on the lawn, two live reindeer greeted the children. Horse and carriage rides were offered throughout the afternoon. Many had their holiday photos taken inside a gigantic inflatable snowglobe, until technical difficulties brought down the attraction prematurely.
The event also supported the annual Toys for Tots effort in the city.
SUNY Police Chiefs Association Honors 3 Officers Based at SUNY Oswego
The State University of New York Police Chiefs Association recently honored three officers of University Police at SUNY Oswego for taking actions that saved lives.
In a ceremony at its fall conference Nov. 14 in Saratoga Springs, the association presented Life Saving Awards to officers Thomas Marrone, Kelly Thompson and Thomas Woodruff.
Officer Marrone was recognized for saving the life of a man last May.
While assisting the city of Oswego’s police on another matter, Marrone was alerted that a man was attempting to commit suicide by jumping off the Bridge Street Bridge into the Oswego River. Marrone risked his own life pulling the man to safety as the man stood on the outside of the protective railing preparing to jump.
Officers Thompson and Woodruff were recognized for saving the life of a SUNY Oswego student last fall who had collapsed and was found unresponsive and not breathing on the west side of campus.
“I commend officers Thompson, Woodruff and Marrone for their quick thinking and professional response to these incidents,” said John Rossi, chief of University Police at SUNY Oswego. “Because of their actions, we have two people alive today that surely would have met with tragic consequences. Their actions reflect greatly on their character, and that of all State University Police officers system-wide.”
Sikhs Hold Community Prayer Vigil To Overcome Hatred, Stop Violence
Several years ago, Ralph Singh, founding President of Gobind Sadan, USA, told Oswego County Today that “Darkness is merely a stage for the light to play on. As dark as it might seem; in fact the brighter the light becomes. And, a beacon of hope spreads further across the horizons for all men to see.”
That was evident at the recent ‘Gathering Around The Light’ ceremony at the Sikhs’ temple on Graves Road in Palermo.
In a world dominated by acts of hatred, some 50 people gathered to celebrate the power of forgiveness to overcome the flames hatred and remember the great miracle that rekindled the hope of the Central New York region.
On the 16th anniversary of the post 9-11 arson attack on Gobind Sadan, USA, the community was invited to join in a memorial vigil – “Gathering Around the Light” on Nov. 18 around the flag pole which marks the site, “where in the midst of the fires of hatred, our holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, did not burn,” Singh said.
In the next room, the Holy Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, that had triumphed over the flames and water, sat ensconced on its traditional throne.
Gobind Sadan USA is an interfaith community based on Sikh teachings. In November 2001, an arson fire destroyed the main building of the religious center, a 100-year-old converted farmhouse. The blaze ravaged the temple; but amazingly, the scripture survived.
Cuomo Announces Nearly $2 Million To Expand After-School Programs In CNY
Governor Andrew Cuomo Nov. 28 announced nearly $2 million in Empire State After-School Program funding has been awarded to two high-need school districts in Central New York.
This funding will support the addition of 1,239 new slots, bringing the total number to 2,405 – more than doubling the number of slots from last year. First announced in January as part of the Governor’s 2017 State of the State, a total of $35 million in funding has been enacted in the FY 2018 Budget to provide districts across the state with these five-year grants.
“An investment in our children is an investment in the future of this great state,” Governor Cuomo said.
The Oswego City School District will receive $566,400.
“Today’s announcement is vital to the schools across Oswego. I know that this funding will be essential to helping our schools expand their after-school programs,” Oswego Superintendent Dr. Dean Goewey said. “When more children have access to enriching resources at the end of the school day, we ensure that their learning doesn’t end just because the bell rang. I look forward to seeing how this critical investment will help our communities flourish.”
Pair Accused of Sexual Harassment
An Oswego Common Councilor was accused of sexual harassment at the Nov. 27 council meeting.
Carol Thompson said Councilor John Gosek and Lou Sorendo, an associate editor for Local News, Inc., sent her sexually explicit recordings through the Facebook messenger app earlier this year.
She alleged that in the recording, Sorendo talks about having sexual intercourse with her and Gosek responded by calling her “poison.” Later he added, “throw a flag over her face and do it for your country.”
Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section.
missing or outdated ad config
How about a decrease in spending…….and a tax reduction.