You are here: Home / 2011 / Archives for December 2011

Madison County Sheriff’s Blotter Dec. 12-18

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dec. 12, 2011

A Madison County youth was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, in connection with disabling emergency equipment.

Douglas B. Brownell, Jr., 34, of Fyler Road, Kirkville, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor.

Dec. 13

Edward J. DePalma, 23, of Bryant Avenue, Syracuse, was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle without a valid inspection, operating a trailer without a registration plate and an equipment violation.

Dec. 14

Derek L. LaBarre, 32, of Falls Road, Chittenango, was charged with petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor.

Justin P. Silva, 21, of County Route 6, Fulton, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Dec. 16

Judy Dommett, 48, of East Lake Road, Cazenovia, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of narcotics, a class C felony; driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater, both unclassified misdemeanors; unlawful possession of marijuana, refusal to take a breath test, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle and failure to dim lights.

James J. Streeter 20, of Brooks Road, Morrisville, was charged with underage possession of alcohol.

Dec. 17

Bradley R. Wimett, 28, of Seneca Turnpike East, Canastota, was charged with an unspecified violation of the Family Court Act.

Dec. 18

Ronald E. McEathron, Jr., 35, of Williams Road, Stockbridge, was charged with second-degree criminal content, a class A misdemeanor.

Mark E. Dutcher, 44, of Lee Terrace, North Syracuse, was charged with an unclassified Family Court Act misdemeanor.

Filed Under: Cops/Crime/Courts, Madison County Agencies and Organizations

I’ve Heard Bocelli

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

From Here & Back Again

By Jim Coufal

(Cazenovia, NY – Dec. 2011) Thanksgiving has come and gone, but every day brings reminders of things to be thankful for. Last night I watched National Public Broadcasting, and it reminded me of the following things I’m grateful for:

I’ve heard Andrea Bocelli sing “Amapola,” Frank Sinatra sing “September of My Years,” Barbara Streisand sing “Memories,” Nat “King” Cole sing “Stardust” and, oh, so many more.

I’ve heard Stravinsky’s “Rites of Spring,” Greig’s piano concerto, Ravel’s “Bolero,” Gershwin’s “American in Paris” and, oh, so many more.

I’ve read J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen Donaldson, Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, and, oh, so many more who have taken me to other worlds.  I’ve read Joseph Ellis, David McCullough, Barbara Tuckman, Frederick Douglas, Madelyn Joslyn Gage and other historians and memoirists who have made history live for me.

I’ve read Bart Ehrman, Susan Jacoby, John Crosson, Naomi Wolf, C.S. Lewis, and other scholars who lit up my thinking cap.

I’ve eaten good old burgers and dogs, tender steaks and succulent lobster, shrimp and scallops, MacIntosh apples and freestone peaches, wild strawberries and hand-picked blueberries, and, oh, so many other delicious foods.

I’ve nipped Tulamore Dew, Bailey’s Irish Cream, a wee drop of Jack Daniel’s and savored a cold Heineken, a Guinness, a Yeungling and, oh, so many others.

I’ve wet my body in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, went balloon riding and gliding and white-water rafting and skiing and fishing and hunting. I’ve sat in my comfortable home and explored the depths of the ocean, the savannahs of Africa, the last tigers of India, the birth of a wildebeest, the death of a wildebeest, the cycle and beat of life, all through the technology of television I watched grow so much just in my lifetime.

I’ve laughed at Carol Burnett, Johnny Carson, Jeff Dunham, George Carlson, Bob Hope and Red Skelton, the Shakespeare Company, and, oh, so many more. I’ve heard them over the radio and watched them on television.

What’s next?

I have gone from a slide rule, to a hand-crank calculator, to a Texas Instruments pocket calculator, to a computer with more power than the one used to get the first man to the moon, which I also watched on a grainy black-and-white television.

I’ve learned to get out of the way of people with phones stuck in their ears no matter what they are doing or who they are talking to, and laughed at couples sitting in a booth without looking or talking to each other as they played on their handhelds.

I’ve watched the sun rise over Chittenango Creek; I’ve watched the sun set over Cranberry Lake; and, through the magic of Ferd Grofe’s “Grand Canon Suite,” I’ve heard the sunrise over the Canyon.

I’ve seen the moonrise over Chittenango Creek and the moon shed rays across Cranberry Lake. I’ve seen the moon so big, it appeared I could reach out and touch it.

I’ve had a fascinating, though usually not discernible, dream life. I’ve had dog companions extraordinaire.

I’ve sat in the stands as Syracuse University win a national title in football, in the Dome as they went on to win the NCAA tourney in basketball, I’ve witnessed several lacrosse national championships and learned to be satisfied, yet thinking one more would be soooo … nice.

I’ve experienced the healing wonder of modern medicine, spoken before many audiences, loved and been loved, written many things, especially good friends.  I could go on and on, and I haven’t even said anything about my wife and family whose love and confidences I keep close.

I stop hear here because I’ve probably bored you already.

Big deal, you say, most of those things are just “every day.” Ah, yes, but that’s where we mostly live, in the everyday, and I believe that is where we must find the greatest number of things for which we are thankful.

That great bell-shaped curve says that most of us are or very near average; we’re probably better than we think we are and we’re probably worse than we think we are … every day.

And if hearing the joyful song of a bird or if wondering at the amazing growth of technology or listening to great music and wondering about the amazing abilities of composers, lyricists and performers isn’t something to be thankful for, every day, or all the other things I’ve listed and skipped, what is?

Jim Coufal of Cazenovia is a part-time philosopher and full-time observer of global trends. He can be reached at madnews@m3pmedia.com.

Filed Under: Cazenovia, From Here & Back Again, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: , ,

Shades of Green in Madison County: A Green Living Experience

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Wampsville, Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) Madison County is proud to announce the first Shades of Green in Madison County: A Green Living Experience event, which is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. in the STUAC Conference Center at Morrisville State College in Morrisville.

This exciting free, full-day event is an initiative of the Madison County Community Economic Development Committee formed to implement the Health Improvement Plan for Madison County.

It is the first event of its kind in the county.

The purpose of the sustainability workshop is to help individuals, businesses and communities advance green initiatives throughout Madison County to achieve more economically viable, sustainable and healthier places to live, go to school, work, shop and enjoy.

The event is free and open to the public, although attendance is limited to 200. There is space available for exhibitors. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information and to register, visit greenmadisoncounty.com/.

The event will have something for everyone, from the home- and business-owner to the community leader, as it will feature more than 25 speakers in four breakout sessions with three tracks.

Peter Fleischer, executive director of Empire State Future, and Cornelius B. Murphy, the president of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, are the keynote speakers. The presenting sponsor of the event is Sysco, a food product distributer serving restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers.

Speaker and topics include: Greg Olsen, acting director, state Office for the Aging; Raymond Denniston, Farm to School Network; Jean Bonhotal, associate director Cornell Waste Management Institute Department of Crop and Soil Sciences; Amanda R. Lewkowicz, Preservation Program coordinator, Preservation League of New York State; Brian Pincelli, Energy $mart Communities coordinator, Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board; Steve DiRaimo, project executive, EYP/Energy; Linda Wimmer, master gardener; Bj Adigun, Onondaga County Save the Rain Program; Samuel Gordon, Energy $mart Communities coordinator, Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board; John Pumilio, sustainability coordinator, Colgate University; Scott Ingmire, executive director, Madison County Planning Department; Dave Evans, director, Nelson Farms; and Michael W. Scanlon, president, Sysco Syracuse, LLC.

For more information, call Jamie Hart at the Madison County Planning Department at (315) 366-2376.

Filed Under: Business & Finance, Calendar of Events, Economics, Education, Environment and Nature, Health & Medicine, Madison County Agencies and Organizations, Morrisville, Top Stories, Wampsville Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Colgate Drops First Home Game to Quinnipiac

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Colgate7909

 

(Hamilton, NY – Dec. 28, 2011) Mitch Rolls had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists but Colgate dropped its first home game of the season losing 80-70 to Quinnipiac Wednesday night at Cotterell Court. (Photo by Bob Cornell)

 

Filed Under: Hamilton, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Two-Car Personal Injury Accident in Town of Cazenovia

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Cazenovia, NY – Dec. 27, 2011)  On Dec. 28, 2011 at 3:54 p.m. Morrisville State Troopers investigated a two-car personal injury accident on State Route 92, town of Cazenovia just west of West Lake Road that closed the roadway for approximately one hour.

Investigation revealed that Rubanel Serrano, 46, of Syracuse was eastbound on State Route 92 in a 1999 Buick. An un-involved 2003 Kia Sorrento, operated by Christopher Augustinos, 17, of Manlius was westbound on Route 92 when he lost control of his vehicle on the snow covered roadway crossing into the eastbound lane.

Rubanel took evasive action to avoid a collision and lost control of his vehicle, entering the westbound lane striking a westbound 2003 Ford Taurus, operated by Frederick Hutchinson, 20, of S. New Berlin. Cazenovia Fire Department Rescue responded to the scene.

Hutchinson, three passengers in his vehicle, and a passenger in the Rubanel vehicle were transported to Syracuse area hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries by CAVAC, Manlius Fire Department Ambulance and Fayetteville Fire Department Ambulance.

Augustinos was issued a ticket for Unsafe Speed.

 

Filed Under: Cazenovia, Cops/Crime/Courts Tagged With: ,

Rollover Accident Leads To DWI Arrest in Sullivan

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Chittenango, NY – Dec. 28, 2011) State Police in Sullivan arrested Jeffrey C. Duell, 56, of Eisenhower Boulevard, Bridgeport for Driving While Intoxicated after investigating a one vehicle rollover accident on State Route 13 in the Town of Sullivan Saturday, Dec. 24.

The accident investigation revealed that at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday evening, Duell was operating a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck northbound on Route 13 when he swerved to avoid a deer crossing the roadway.  The pickup left the east side of the roadway, struck a tree stump and overturned onto its side.  Duell was not injured in the crash.

During the interview of the operator, Trooper Jason Thomas determined that Duell was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him for DWI.

Duell was processed at the SP Sullivan station, where a breath test determined Duell’s blood alcohol content to be .10 percent.  Duell was issued traffic tickets for DWI and Driving with a BAC over .08 percent and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Sullivan Court on Jan. 24, 2012.

 

Filed Under: Bridgeport-Lakeport, Chittenango, Cops/Crime/Courts, Sullivan Tagged With: , , , ,

#11/12 Men’s Hockey Closes Out 2011 With Canisius

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Matt Faulkner, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

(Hamilton, NY- Dec. 28, 2011) The nationally-ranked Colgate men’s hockey team will finish the 2011 calendar year on Friday night as the Raiders host Canisius at Starr Rink.

Colgate is back on the ice after a 20-day break from competition. The
game is set for 7 p.m. and for all necessary game day links, fans can
visit the Men’s Hockey Game Central page.

THIS WEEK: RAIDERS CLOSE OUT 2011 WITH CANISIUS
The team will finish a three-week break for finals and the Christmas
holiday, the Raiders will be back at Starr Rink on Dec. 30 to face
upstate rival Canisius. The game will be the last of a stretch of six
home games in the team’s last seven games. The Golden Griffins are
4-10-3 this season and is on four-game losing streak and last played
on Dec. 11 and lost to Robert Morris, 2-1. They were blown out in
back-to-back games against Quinnipiac to begin the season with 7-1 and
4-0 losses. Canisius is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games with two wins over
American International and ties with nationally-ranked Lake Superior
State and Niagara. This will be the sixth meeting with Canisius and
Colgate is 4-1-0 in the series and the teams last met back in 2009-10
with the Griffs winning 7-6 in overtime.

LAST TIME OUT: SKATING TO A TIE WITH #5 MERRIMACK
Robbie Bourdon scored late in the second period to erase a 1-0
Merrimack lead, but that was it for scoring on Saturday night as the
battle between the No. 11/12 Colgate and fifth-ranked Warriors ended
in a 1-1 tie. The Raiders extended their unbeaten streak to six games
thanks to Bourdon’s sixth of the season. Austin Smith and Kurtis
Bartliff earned the assists on the goal. For Bartliff, it was his
first game in the lineup since Oct. 14 against Miami. Eric Mihalik
made 25 saves to earn his first tie of the year. The six-game unbeaten
streak is the longest since 2009 and it was the sixth meeting against
a ranked team for the Raiders and they are 3-2-1 in those games. It
was the first 1-1 tie since Feb. 25 last year at Yale and during this
unbeaten Colgate has allowed just eight goals total and have not
allowed more than two in any single game.

NEXT WEEK: ON THE ROAD FOR TWO AT #11/12 FERRIS STATE
The Raiders will be on the road for two straight games for the first
time since mid-November as Colgate travels to western Michigan to take
on nationally-ranked Ferris State. The two schools will be meeting for
the 10th time in the series and it is knotted up at 4-4-1. The Raiders
are unbeaten in the last three against the Bulldogs at 2-0-1 and the
last time the two met was back in 2008-09 when the teams skated to a
3-3 tie. Ferris State started out on first with six-straight wins and
a 9-2-1 start. Since that start, they have sputtered to a 2-4-0 record
after getting swept by Western Michigan and splitting with Notre Dame.
The Bulldogs are 7-6-1 in the CCHA for the fifth spot in the
standings. They are tough to play at home as they are 6-1-1 at
Ewigleben Ice Arena.

COLGATE BY THE NUMBERS
482 – Votes received by Colgate in the USCHO.com National Poll.
306 – Career wins for Raiders head coach Don Vaughan.
168 – Votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Mag. Poll.
22 – Goals during six-game unbeaten streak.
19 – Players on the Raiders with at least one point.
19 – Goals scored by Colgate in the first or last two minutes of periods.
14 – Players on the team with at least one goal.
12 – Raiders that have multi-point games this year.
12 – Games allowing two or less goals (8-2-2).
11 – Wins this season, fastest to 11 wins since 2004-05.
10 – Straight weeks in USCHO.com Poll.
10 – Colgate picked to finish 10th in both ECAC Hockey Preseason Polls.
9 – Wins when leading after two periods.
8 – Games with four or more goals (8-0-0).
8 – Goals allowed during six-game unbeaten streak.
7 – Wins on Friday night this year (7-1-0).
6 – Shorthanded goals this season (5 by A. Smith).
6 – Games left against current nationally-ranked teams.
6 – Weeks in the USA Today/USA Hockey Mag. Poll.
5 – One-goal games this season.
4 – Power play goals against Niagara on Oct. 28, most in a
single game since 2009.
4 – Largest winning margin this season (twice)
4 – Wins following a loss.
4 – Overtime games this season (2-0-2).
3 – Wins over nationally-ranked teams.
1 – Shutouts this season.

RAIDERS RANKED
Colgate is ranked for the 10th-consecutive week, coming in at the 11th
spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and 12th in the nation
according to the USCHO.com National Poll. Colgate sits at 11-4-2 on
the season with three wins over ranked opponents. The Raiders are
joined by two other ECAC Hockey schools in the USCHO poll as Union is
still tops in the poll among league schools at 10th, while Cornell
sits at No. 13. Colgate has spent the last six weeks in the USA Today
poll and is one of three ECAC Hockey schools in the rankings with
Union at No. 10 and Cornell at No. 13. The Raiders have six games left
against teams that were in this week’s polls.

UNBEATEN STREAK AMONG COUNTRY’S BEST
The Raiders have been on their longest unbeaten streak since 2009 and
currently the streak is among the country’s best. Minnesota-Duluth and
Robert Morris are the only other schools that are playing better than
Colgate. The Bulldogs are 11-0-3 in their last 14 games, while the
Colonials have gone unbeaten in their last seven contests.
Northeastern and Niagara have been on six-game unbeaten streaks as
well, as of Dec. 10.

AMONG TOP TEAMS
Colgate has really turned it around from last season and the defense
has been a major factor. Following the Merrimack game, the Raiders
were ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense, as they are giving
up 2.18 goals per game and have averaged 1.33 goals allowed during the
unbeaten streak. The offense isn’t far behind as Colgate is 15th in
the nation in goals per game with 3.29.

IN GOOD COMPANY
Austin Smith has 131 points in his career and continues to average a
point a game in his career as he has played 131 games. He is currently
tied with former teammate and recent NHLer, David McIntyre ’10. Smith
has 61 goals and 70 helpers in his career and him and McIntyre are
tied for 24th all-time in Colgate scoring. He is on his second
eight-game point streak after earning an assist against Merrimack.
Smith has tallied at least one point in all but one game and still
leads the nation in goals with 18 and points per game at 1.65.

MIHALIK NAMED GOALIE OF THE WEEK
Mihalik was a major reason the Raiders earned the 1-1 tie with the
Warriors Saturday with 25 saves in net, including five in overtime
when Merrimack had a power play. It was his first tie of the season
and he has given up four total goals in his last three starts. All
three starts he has given up two or less goals. He made 21 stops after
Merrimack went up 1-0 early in the first period. He was named goalie
of the week earlier this season after Colgate took home the Mutual of
Omaha Stampede with a win over Nebraska-Omaha. He is the third
goaltender in the league to earn the honor twice, joining Troy
Grosenick of Union and Andy Ilnes of Cornell.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME
Chris Wagner has enjoyed a great start to the season with seven goals
and 13 assists for 20 points. He has already eclipsed his scoring from
a season ago as he had 19 points. He enjoyed his best game as a Raider
on Saturday against St. Lawrence with four points on two goals and two
assists. He ranks second in ECAC Hockey in points with 20, which is
seven behind Smith. He has torn it up lately with seven points in his
last three games and has scored at least one point in six of the last
seven games and has 12 points over that span.

STRIKING EARLY & LATE
This season, Colgate has started and ended periods with strong
performances as 19 of the team’s 56 goals have come in the first or
last two minutes of periods. The lone time it happened last weekend
was against Clarkson on Friday night with Smith’s empty netter.
Against Vermont on Nov. 25, Colgate scored goals in the first and last
two minutes of the second period and then added a third goal with 1:26
left in the final period. When Austin Smith had a hat trick against
Quinnipiac, he scored all three in the final two minutes of each
period.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
The seniors have really stepped up as leaders this season and the
scoresheet shows how. All eight skaters have earned points this year
with Smith leading the way. The class has combined for 64 points on 30
goals and 34 assists. The 64 points are almost half of the team’s
output and they are 55 percent of the goal scoring. Evin has done his
job in net as a senior with a 4-1-1 record and a 1.48 goals against
average.

SHORTHANDED KILLERS
After just one shorthanded goal all of last season, the Raiders have
caught fire during penalty killing this year with six shorthanded
goals in their first 16 games. Austin Smith has been a one-man
wrecking crew with five of the six to lead the nation in shorties.
Chris Wagner added his first career shorthanded goal against Vermont
and Smith assisted on the score. The six shorties for Colgate is tied
with Boston University for the most in the country and when scoring
shorthanded, Colgate is 5-0-0 on the season.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
Coming into Hamilton, Canisius is on a four-game losing streak with
all four games in conference play. The Golden Griffins have only won
two of their last 11 games and are 2-7-2 during that stretch. Prior to
the holiday break, they dropped games to Mercyhurst and Robert Morris.
They fell in a shootout to the Lakers by a 6-4 score and then lost a
tight game against the Colonials. Canisius is averaging 1.65 goals per
game and allowing 2.88. The Griffs are being outscored 36-17 in the
first two periods of games this year and has allowed 21 goals alone in
the second period. The power play has struggled with just six goals on
64 chances for a 9.4 percent success rate.

Canisius has not scored a lot goals, but the team’s scoring has been
spread out as all but three skaters have points. Kyle Gibbons leads
the Golden Griffins with 15 points on six goals and nine assists. He
leads the team in all three categories. Taylor Law has contributed
with 12 points with five goals and seven helpers and is tied with
Preston Shupe for the team lead in power play goals with two. Ben
Danford leads the blueline with seven points on a goal and six
assists, while Torrey Lindsay had three goals and two assists for five
points with two of the three goals coming shorthanded.

In goal, the Griffs have split time between Dan Morrison and Tony
Capobianco between the pipes. Morrison is a senior that has started
nine games and is 2-6-1 this year. He has given up 24 goals in 540
minutes in net for a 2.67 goals against average. He has a .917 save
percentage with 264 saves on 288 shots. Capobianco has got starts in
eight games and has a 2-4-2 record. He has posted a .925 save
percentage and a 2.84 goals against average.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the sixth meeting between these two upstate schools. The
Raiders own a 4-1-0 advantage in the series, but Canisius won the last
meeting back in 2009-10 by a 7-6 score in overtime. Colgate has
dominated the series throughout the years with 45 goals in the five
games played since the first game back in 1987-88. The Raiders have
scored six or more goals in all five games with the largest margin of
victory coming in 1988-89 by a 14-1 score. Colgate and Canisius will
be playing at Starr Rink for the fifth time in the series and the
Raiders are 4-0-0 all-time at Colgate’s home rink.


Filed Under: Hamilton, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Seatbelt Violation Leads to Felony DWI Arrest

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Garry Cullen for web


(Oneida, NY – Dec. 28, 2011) State Police in Oneida arrested Garry H. Cullen, 53, of Upper Lenox Avenue, Oneida with Felony DWI following a traffic stop in the City of Oneida Tuesday morning.

At approximately 11:10 a.m. on Dec. 27, Trooper Christopher Budlong observed a 2002 Ford F150 pickup truck travelling on Upper Lenox Avenue in Oneida with the operator not wearing his seatbelt.  The pickup truck was stopped and the operator, Cullen, was found to be driving in an intoxicated condition and was subsequently arrested for DWI.

Cullen was processed at the SP Oneida barracks, where a breath test determined his blood alcohol content to be .30 percent.

Cullen was charged with Felony DWI, Aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 percent or more and No Seatbelt and arraigned in the City of Oneida Court.

Cullen was remanded to the Madison County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail or $2,500 bond and is to re-appear in the City of Oneida Court at a later date.

 

Filed Under: Cops/Crime/Courts, Oneida Tagged With: , , , ,

Hydrofracking, Compulsory Integration and Thanksgiving

December 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

To the Editor:

(DeRuyter, NY – Dec. 2011) I have been studying this issue, gathering information and hearing testimony the past two years. Here is my summary of facts and observations:

Having read excerpts of gas land leases old and new, they are not leases as most would consider with a definitive end date. They are, in my opinion, land grabs where the property owner gives up many rights and say as to the stewardship of the land if drilling were to commence. Even the then-attorney general agrees with my assessment:

“Many of these companies use their size and extensive resources to manipulate individual property owners who often cannot afford to hire a private attorney,” said former state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “This land-grab practice must stop.”

Most gas land leases don’t just end on a specified date. If no drilling “operations” have started that extend the lease indefinitely, there are many hoops the property owner has to correctly go through in hopes of maybe ending the lease.

For example, the original gas company you signed a lease with may have sold its interest or parts of it not having to notify you of this. One property owner had six different companies with a vested interest that he had to send a letter of termination to each within a window of time at the supposed end of his contract. He had to go to the County Clerk’s Office and research who all had a lien on the deed to find the six companies. If he missed notifying one, his contract would have extended.

I have seen talking points for gas sales people instructing them to purposely deceive and avoid certain topics when selling these land contracts.

I have struggled with the risks, ( i.e., town of Brookfield incident, Bradford County, Penn., real horror stories and Vosberg Road, October 2010), company’s handling of issues and lack of cooperation, problems obtaining loans or refinancing if a gas lease contract exists or with your neighbors, violating some mortgage contracts if you sign a gas lease, homeowners policies excluding pollution liability if something goes wrong, the industry being exempt from key components of the Clean Air and Drinking Water Act, 70 percent or more of the water and deadly cocktail solutions remaining in the ground after companies leave, property right issues over the compulsory integration law and a host of other issues.

I took an all-day trip down to Pennsylvania recently south of Wilkes Barre, stopping in small-town cafes, asking people about their thoughts regarding this matter. I found that a lot of people who signed leases regretted it, not wishing to renew their leases knowing what they know now.

One thing is for sure where I went: the issue has divided communities and even a local church. I haven’t made up my mind “totally,” but I personally could not sign a gas lease. I could not risk my neighbor’s water supply, be a venue for the gas company to encroach upon their property through compulsory integration and destroying the peaceful tranquility we now enjoy and treasure with hundreds of semi trucks coming and going, along with a compressor running around the clock.

The bigger issue is does it rise to the level of being a public safety concern that necessitates government to ban if not restrict the practice of natural gas hydrofracking? The latter is definite. I believe the ban should affect watershed areas for sure.

If counties or towns want to legislate banning the practice, they should be allowed to do so. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the lawsuit with the town of Dryden, where a ban has been passed and the gas industry is suing them, saying it is unlawful to do so, having no jurisdiction on the matter.

We have a lot to give thanks for here in Madison County. We live in a country that is still free where government and industry cannot silence free and virtuous people. We were given by our founding fathers a republic. Benjamin Franklin said, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”

Keeping that republic requires respect for the values that contributed to this now two-century-old experiment where unalienable rights come not from government but from Divine Providence and therefore cannot be taken way. That’s the idea anyways.

Man has slowly been eroding those values and rights, thinking a few intellectual elite know better how to manage our lives, property and economy. Though some of us will have differing opinions on issues, may we act with God’s love in our hearts toward one another as the democratic process on display seeks to minimize man’s vices and maximizes our respect for one another.

Shawn Skeele, DeRuyter

Filed Under: Brookfield, DeRuyter, Environment and Nature, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: , , , ,

The Quest for the Perfect Parking Spot

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Going Green

By Jim Bona

(Hamilton, NY – Dec. 2011) There was a piece on the news about relieving stress during the holiday season. Seems that one of the sources of stress is trying to find the perfect parking spot at the mall.

I guess it all depends on what you mean by perfect.  In the piece, perfect was defined as the spot closest to the store, where the least amount of walking was needed. (Not sure if it was for walking less or just having the car closer so you can load it with all the stuff you bought while you were at the mall).  There were a few suggestions offered, none of which were very green.

One was just circle the area where you wanted park until someone came out and vacated a spot. Another was just pull up in the middle of the lane and sit and wait until someone came out.  Both waste gas, but one wastes less than the other.

Another was just to follow a shopper that has exited the store, but the word they used was: stalk. Not a good idea, unless you want to freak someone out.

The commentator said that the study found that you never had to wait more than nine minutes before you found a spot, usually very close to the entrance of the store/mall.

My suggestion to save time and gas would be to just park in the south 40, the farthest area away from the store, where there are always plenty of spots to be had.  If the time cut off is nine minutes; that means you can park pretty far away from the store and still save time.  You get a little exercise in the process and even avoid getting your vehicle doors from dinged by people who like to fling their car doors open when they exit.

Maybe the best way to avoid parking stress would be to not even going to the mall at all?

Jim Bona is a technician at Colgate and passionate about all things green. He can be reached at jbona@mail.colgate.edu.

 

 

Filed Under: Environment and Nature, Going Green, Hamilton, Opinion-Editorial Tagged With: , ,

Zielasko Promoted at OSB

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Zielasko - 03

(Oneida, NY – Dec. 2011) Oneida Savings Bank announced the promotion of Brett W. Zielasko to the position of Trust Officer at Oneida Savings Bank.  Zielasko has been with OSB since November 2010, most recently as Assistant Trust Officer.

In his capacity, Zielasko is responsible for all aspects of Trust and Investment Services, in addition to assisting the senior account officer with account administration and developing new business relationships for the Trust Department.

Zielasko is a graduate of Oneida High School.  He earned a Baccalaureate of Arts degree from State University of New York at Oswego, a Juris Doctorate from Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, Mass., and passed the New York State Bar Examination in 2010.

Zielasko is a member of the Oneida Rotary Club and a member of the Western New England Law Review. He has continued his education by attending the New York Bankers Association sponsored Trust Administration School. He resides in Chittenango with his wife, Cortney.

 

Filed Under: Announcements, Business & Finance, Chittenango, Oneida Tagged With: , , , ,

Old Man Winter Has Never Been So Popular: The Central New York Region Makes the Most of the Cold

December 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

 

(Dec. 2011)

Although snowfall has been scarce so far this winter, it’s sure to come, and when it does, we’ll be more than ready for it. After all, the Central New York Region offers the very best of New York State, especially when it comes to snow play – from downhill and cross-country skiing, to snowshoeing and tobogganing, to ice skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling.

Families are invited to bundle up and head over to the McCauley Mountain Ski Area in Herkimer County’s Adirondacks. Known as “New York’s Best Family Mountain,” McCauley offers skiers and snowboarders two dozen trails of fun ranging from gentle cruisers for beginners to steeps and glades for thrill seekers. With views to the High Peaks from its 2,300 ft. summit and miles of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, McCauley is the most affordable and accessible Adirondack resort. A ski school, ski shop and cozy chalet with a restaurant and lounge complete the whole ski area package.

Glimmerglass State Park, overlooking Otsego Lake, the infamous “Glimmerglass” of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales, is located just outside the village of Cooperstown. With its rolling, partially wooded terrain that’s host to a wide variety of wildlife, the park offers the perfect adventure for the whole family. While tubing is wildly popular here, the landscape is excellent for cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice fishing, as well. An uphill trail through the forest offers a spectacular view of Otsego Lake, while the Beaver Pond and Woodland trails are picturesque in their own rite.

Another scenic area to admire the romance between Mother Nature and Jack Frost is the Landis Arboretum, a public garden on 548 acres and six miles of hiking trails overlooking the Schoharie Valley. Forty acres feature trees, shrubs, and perennial plants from around the world while the remainder of the property consists of woodlands and open fields, ideal for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Smack dab in the middle of the region, Chenango County encompasses more state land than any other county besides the Adirondack Park. Snowmobilers are welcomed to hop on their Arctic Cats for 150 miles of State Corridor Trail spanning to the north and east, used exclusively for snowmobiling. For cross-country skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoe fans, Bowman Lake State Park has 660 acres of snowy nature trails.

For cross-country skiing in Greater Binghamton, the combined trail system at Greenwood Park is approximately 5.5 miles and includes groomed trails for beginners all the way up to the expert skier. Additional winter facilities include toboggans, snowshoes and a warming room to melt the icicles off guests’ noses between trails. There are plenty of routes for snowmobiling as local clubs groom challenging trails throughout the county each year, like the BC Sno Riders and Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club. Fantastic ice skating rinks in the area include the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Broome Community College Ice Center and the Chenango Ice Rink.

The 13-mile-long Stoney Pond Nordic Ski Trail in Madison County presents awesome trails through woodsy wonderlands. Snowmobiling fanatics are invited to dive into the powder at Brookfield State Forest, where a highly acclaimed 130-mile horse and snowmobile trail system navigates across 13,000 acres of Beaver Creek, Brookfield Railroad and Charles E. Baker State Forests. Home to interesting terrain and a wide variety of wildlife species, the forest provides families with the perfect winter wonderland setting for their recreation of choice.

For cross-country skiing in Madison County, the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota, Madison County’s only nature center, boasts several miles of skiing and snowshoeing trails through forests, fields and swamp.

The Val Bialas Ski Center in Oneida County offers guests night skiing, snowboarding, plus a quaint ski chalet complete with a snack bar and double-sided fireplace to thaw out next to. For the downhill skier, there are five trails at different degrees of difficulty, a sledding hill for those who prefer tobogganing and seven miles of groomed cross-country trails with varying degrees of difficulty. With 540 miles of trails, Oneida features exceptional lodging with direct access to snowmobile trailheads from the property, like Inn at the Beeches and Headwaters Motor Lodge.

Also, Boonville presents the Boonville Snow Festival and Vintage Sled Races every year and was recently named the sixth snowiest city in the US by the Weather Channel.

The Central New York Region has the best of all four seasons, and winter is no exception. Snow sports enthusiasts are encouraged to grab their skis, skates, sleds, snowshoes and snowmobiles and make the most of the region’s serene, frosty surroundings.

For more details concerning the Central New York Region, or to plan your snow-day getaway, visit JustGoCNY.com.

Filed Under: Brookfield, Fun & Recreation, Lenox, Sports, Top Stories
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »