Oneida, NY – The Turning Stone, St. Regis Mohawk and Seneca casinos have clearly brought more money to the Native American tribes that operate them, even if exact numbers are hard to come by. But the casino profits are also increasing educational opportunities for members of some New York Indian tribes, paralleling a shift in attitude about the importance of higher education.
Segment close : Jeremy Hanlon enters his senior year of high school on September 12. He plans to pursue a career in broadcasting. Jeremy's Day at the Fair was produced by WRVO's Mark Lavonier with assistance provided by WRVO's Fred Vigent.
Syracuse, NY – The New York State Fair has highlighted agriculture since its opening in 1842. But it's also a chance for New Yorkers to learn more about the process of working with one's hands, as well as the results. A handful of craftsmen are at the fairgrounds this year to educate visitors about the tools they use and the work they do.
Syracuse, NY – Upstate New York used to be a busy hub of manufacturing.
Now, factories seem to be closing everday.
Over 1500 jobs were eliminated in Central New York alone in the past six months. Companies like Nestle, Sonoco, and Marsellus Casket are moving operations out of Central New York ... to places where muscle labor is cheaper.
WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen takes a look at what seems to be a dying sector of the Upstate economy.
Syracuse, NY – WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen speaks to Syracuse University professor Bill Coplin, the author of "Ten Things Employers Want You to Learn in College."
Skaneateles, NY – The Skaneateles Festival has showcased chamber musicians from around the world for 24 years. Around 7,000 people each year attend the festival, which takes place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the month of August. WRVO's Skye Rohde spent some time last week with pianist Andrew Russo, a Syracuse native.
Syracuse, NY – Congressman James Walsh made headlines recently when he gave Syracuse-based Carrier Corporation an ultimatum: Stay in Syracuse or risk losing federal tax incentives.
He spoke to WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen about his comments.
New York, NY – A new state law gives school districts the option of electing a non-voting student member to their school boards.
WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen speaks to Assembly Education Committee chairman Steven Sanders about how students are getting a voice in how their schools are run.
Stockbridge, NY – A group of Central New York teenagers is working to unearth Native American artifacts in Stockbridge this week. The archaeological dig on Oneida Nation homelands is part of an ongoing partnership between Colgate University and the Oneida Nation that aims to educate Native American teens about their heritage while preserving traditional artifacts.
Williamson, NY – Upstate New York's cherry growers are reeling from the effects of last April's ice storm. As they near the end of the tart cherry harvest, they're gathering a fraction of their usual crop. And the decrease in production is raising questions abut the future of the state's cherry industry.
Oswego, NY – A handful of science teachers and college students are ready to take their new knowledge about the Great Lakes back to the classroom this fall. They spent a week this summer aboard the Lake Guardian, a research vessel operated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The group stopped in Oswego to explore the sand dunes of Lake Ontario's eastern shore and the Salmon River Fish Hatchery.
Syracuse, NY – Twenty-seven years in the business has taught past and present members of The Media Unit all about the art of performance. Alternating as actors, dancers, choreographers, scriptwriters and stage managers, the young adults in the Syracuse-based performance troupe work to balance hope, humor and honesty in their shows. WRVO's Skye Rohde reports.
Oswego, NY – The Fresh Air Fund is a 126-year-old program that brings low-income children from New York City, ages 6 to 18, to suburbs and small towns across the northeast during the summer. Over 5,000 children each year stay with volunteer host families from Virginia to Maine and up into Canada. Another 3,000 attend Fresh Air camps in Fishkill, New York. WRVO's Skye Rohde was there when the Fresh Air Fund bus pulled into Oswego earlier this week.
Oswego, NY – Korean War Veteran Paul Spottek of Victory, Cayuga County crafted a homespun C-D to remind us this Fourth of July why the "Soldier" is so important to our freedom and independence.
Sandy Creek, NY – The 146th annual Oswego County Fair is taking place in Sandy Creek this week. Officials predict that more than 20,000 visitors will come to the fair, which is open through Saturday evening. WRVO's Skye Rohde stopped by the fair earlier this week and has this sound portrait.
Croghan, NY – Alpacas are common in the high plains of Peru, Chile and Bolivia, where people have created clothing out of their fleece and used their dung as fuel for centuries. Alpacas, cousins of llamas, haven't even been in the U.S. 20 years. But these docile, fuzzy ET-lookalikes -- five feet from head to toe -- are an increasingly popular choice of livestock for both established and brand-new small-scale farmers.
Oswego, NY – The health care worker shortage is just as apparent in central and northern New York as it is elsewhere across the nation. But upstate community hospitals face the added challenge of competing with top-of-the-line urban facilities to entice doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians to work with them. WRVO's Skye Rohde reports on the different ways hospitals are addressing the shortage.
Oswego, NY – The fate of DestiNY USA could be decided in the next few days. The developer of the $2.2 billion project is seeking a multi-million dollar tax break from the state, but one house of the Legislature is unlikely to endorse the measure. The Senate's refusal to consider it is primarily due to opposition from Syracuse-area state senator John DeFrancisco. He tells WRVO's Chris Ulanowski that it's still unclear exactly what the developer wants to build.
Oswego, NY – Mosses are the most primitive of all land plants. Rarely more than an inch tall, they're considered the "amphibians" of the plant world.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, a professor at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, has looked at mosses through a hand-lens for more than 30 years. In her new book "Gathering Moss," she blends scientific description with her indigenous heritage to understand the role mosses play in their environment.
Syracuse, NY – As interest in environmentally friendly building techniques increases across the country, solar panels, low-flow toilets and south-facing windows are becoming more common. New York City, Albany and Buffalo are already moving ahead with numerous "green" projects. And proponents say central New York is poised to become the green building capital of the country. WRVO's Skye Rohde reports.
Oswego, NY – Consumers have turned more and more in recent years to naturally grown herbal products to supplement their diets. Now there's a push to grow nutraceutical crops in New York state. And the growers have the attention of a group of state legislators who want to learn whether crops like echinacea, ginseng and black currant can thrive -- and sell -- in the Empire State. WRVO's Skye Rohde has more.
Syracuse, NY – Last week, when the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office released photos of John Jamelske, they hoped it might trigger more victims to come forward.
As yet, none have.
Jamelske, 67, is accused of kidnapping, imprisoning, and raping at least 5 women.
The Dewitt man would often target homeless women or runaways, abduct them, and keep them imprisoned as his sex slaves in a room he'd built in his basment.