Ag Extravaganza is Sept. 20 and 21

(Jefferson County, NY – Sept. 2011) On Sept. 20 and 21, the Agriculture Extravaganza will be held at the Thompson Park pavilion from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County and Jefferson County Farm Bureau.

The event teaches Jefferson County fourth grade students about the food and fiber system through various stations. Station topics include apples, herding dogs, equine, maple, dairy, dairy products, poultry, trees, and farm safety. There are over 1000 students coming from area schools over the two-day event.

HCCC Board of Trustees to Meet

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 22, 2011) The Herkimer County Community College Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, September 22 at 6:00 pm in the Robert McLaughlin College Center, room 116.

 

UW Back to School Supply Drive a Success

Back to School - United Way at Catholic Charities

 

(Utica, NY – Sept. 16, 2011) United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area’s Back-to-School Supply Drive collected a half-ton of school supplies for local children in need. United Way Executive Director Brenda Episcopo delivered supplies to programs in Herkimer and Oneida Counties this week.

“It is amazing to see what one-half ton of school supplies adds up to,” Episcopo said. “The more than 10 programs receiving the school supplies will get them into the hands of hundreds of local children. School supplies are an expense many families in our community are unable to afford. We are grateful to everyone who donated school materials to help fill an ever-growing need and helped local children start off on the right foot for academic success.”

United Way partnered with area businesses like Herb Philipson’s, Target, Sangertown Square, Birnie Bus, and F.X. Matt Brewing Company to collect the school supplies. BNY Mellon contributed a significant portion of the supplies raised and volunteer hours for this year’s community-wide school supply drive.

United Way plans to continue the Back-to-School Supply Drive in 2012 with the help of community members, area businesses, and partner programs within the community.

 

 

Herkimer College Announces Fall Fest & Alumni Weekend

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 15, 2011) Herkimer County Community College will hold Fall Fest & Alumni Weekend September 29-October 1 on the Herkimer campus. A variety of events are scheduled. The community is welcome to attend.

Thursday, September 29 at 1 p.m. the Robert H. Wood Great Artists Series will present the Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet in concert in the Sarkus-Busch Theater of the McLaughlin College Center. The Quintet is comprised of students from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. The concert is free of charge.

The Athletic Hall of Fame Inaugural Induction Ceremony & Reception will be held Friday, September 30 at 5 p.m.  For reservations, contact the Foundation Office at shepardta@herkimer.edu or (315) 866-0300, ext. 8459.

Events on Saturday, October 1 begin at 11 a.m. with a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk (registration begins at 10 a.m. in the physical education building). Congressman Marc Butler is the honorary chairperson for this event, which benefits the American Cancer Society.

From noon-4 p.m. events will include faculty lectures; a motorcycle, antique tractor & car show; DJ; geocaching on the nature trail; solar star gazing; inflatable games and novelties; swimming in the Cristman Pool and historic walking tours of downtown Herkimer.

An international food event and barbecue for alumni teams will be held from noon-2 p.m. Afternoon activities also include horse drawn wagon rides, Frisbee golf, volleyball and bocce ball.

The film “A Place in the Sun” will be screened at 2 p.m. Car show awards will be at 3 p.m. followed by mentalist Robert Channing at 4 p.m.

Athletic events include the 4th annual men’s baseball alumni game at 11 a.m., women’s soccer vs. Niagara at 1 p.m., the 2nd annual alumni softball game at 2 p.m. and men’s soccer vs. Mercer at 3 p.m.

The events conclude with a free outdoor concert at 7 p.m. by Gridley Paige, “CNY ROCK ICONS—80’s Rock and New Rock.”

For a complete schedule and locations, go to www.herkimer.edu/fallfest or contact the Student Activities Office at (315) 866-0300, ext. 8286.

Language Circles Offered Free

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 15, 2011) Herkimer County Community College’s Center for Global Learning will host Language Circles throughout the fall semester. A group of students from Venezuela, Mali and Morocco will meet with anyone interested in learning or improving their language skills in Spanish, French and Chinese.

Language Circles will meet on Mondays and Fridays from September 16 to December 9, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in the Center for Global Learning, located on the ground floor or the Library Building.  Language Circles are open to the public and free of charge.

Community Indicators Site Updated with Recent Data

 

(Utica, NY – Sept. 15, 2011) The website www.hocindicators.org, a community indicators project undertaken by The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Mohawk Valley EDGE and United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area, has been updated.

Data for the site is collected from national, state, county and local agencies and then analyzed by the Center for Governmental Research in Rochester, NY. The site provides a statistical snapshot of Herkimer and Oneida counties and measures key indicators in arts, culture and leisure, financial self-sufficiency, economy, education, health, housing, public safety, technology and transportation. The site went live with its initial data set in April 2010.

Among the findings with this update are:

  • Oneida County tourism revenue brings in more dollars per capita than the New York State average (excluding New York City), and Herkimer County’s tourism revenue is about twice that of its comparison counties, Fulton and Montgomery.
  • While funding for science and engineering research increased across the state, it decreased in our region, indicating the opportunity to grow this area.
  • The ratio of technology and computer teachers in public schools is higher than the state average in both counties. This instruction helps to better prepare students for higher education and careers that are increasingly more high tech.
  • In Oneida County, more non-white individuals rely on transportation other than their own personal vehicles to get to work. This may reflect the need for a strong public transit system.
  • In both counties, a higher percentage of children tested for lead exposure had elevated levels than the state average.

“The information we see in this update certainly provides us with hard data that we, as a community, can address,” said Peggy O’Shea, Community Foundation President & CEO. “There is a great benefit to having this information in one place to see the ‘bigger picture’ and have an accurate view of the issues we are facing in order to tackle them at their root causes, rather than temporarily alleviating the symptoms. Given the interconnectedness of the indicators, teamwork and partnership among not-for-profit organizations, corporations and community members is critical to our ability to achieve positive results,” she concluded.

For more information about The Community Foundation’s work in Herkimer and Oneida counties, visit www.foundationhoc.org or call (315) 735-8212.

 

Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet to Perform

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 14, 2011)  The Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet will perform Thursday afternoon, September 29 at Herkimer County Community College. The concert will begin at 1 p.m. in the Sarkus-Busch Theater located in the McLaughlin College Center.

The Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet is an elite ensemble of students from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. Auditioned each year, the ensemble is endowed by Dr. Arthur Frakenpohl, Professor Emeritus and internationally known composer and arranger. The students receive scholarship support and funding for travel and other activities.

Their performance at HCCC will include selections by Bach, Debussy, Ellington, Lennon & McCartney, Joplin and more.

Members of the Quintet are Brianne Borden (trumpet), a sophomore music education and performance major at Crane; Tom Giosa (trumpet), a sophomore music education major; Marian Hotopp (horn), a sophomore studying both music education and performance; Shaun Cagney, also a sophomore music education and performance major; and Richie Cluxton (tuba), a senior majoring in music education and performance.

The concert, offered through The Robert H. Wood Great Artists Series and presented by the Herkimer County College Foundation, is open to the public free of charge. For more concert information go to: www.herkimer.edu/foundation/greatartists. It is part of Fall Fest/Alumni Weekend at Herkimer. For a listing of weekend events go to: www.herkimer.edu/fallfest.

The Robert H. Wood Great Artists Series is the result of a generous endowment made by the late Robert H. Wood, a long-time resident of Ilion, NY. The Robert H. Wood Great Artists Series sponsors at least two classical music performances annually to allow residents of all ages to enjoy high-caliber music and artists.

Area Students Earned Honors, Degrees

Area Students Named to Morrisville State College President’s List

Morrisville State College recently announced those students who were named to the President’s List for the spring 2011 semester.

To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a perfect 4.0 average for the semester and complete 12 credit hours.

Tanner Dewolf, a resident of Manlius, NY

Heather Madlin, a resident of Syracuse, NY

Brenda Westcott, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Silke Mahardy, a resident of Sherburne, NY

 

Area Students Graduate from Morrisville State College

The following area residents were among students to graduate from Morrisville State College in May 2011.

Tanner Dewolf, a resident of Manilus, NY received a degree in Renewable Resources Technology – B. Tech.

Teri Curtis, a resident of Manlius, NY received a degree in Undeclared.

Heidi Conkrite, a resident of Cuyler, NY received a degree in Equine Racing Management.

Heather Madlin, a resident of Syracuse, NY received a degree in Equine Science – B. Tech.

Wheeler Brunschmid, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Individual Studies.

Ward Coughlin, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Massage Therapy.

Loretta Goedel, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Nursing – A.A.S..

Michelle Karoll, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Business Administration.

Jenna Larson, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Business Administration.

John Lathrop, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Agricultural Business.

Cory Ray, a resident of Sherburne, NY received a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science.

 

Area Students Named to Morrisville State College Dean’s List

Morrisville State College recently announced those students who were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2011 semester.

To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must achieve an average of 3.0 to 3.99 for the semester and complete 12 credit hours.

Valerie Sargrad, a resident of Manlius, NY

Tyler Jacobs, a resident of Manlius, NY

Heidi Conkrite, a resident of Cuyler, NY

Timothy Conkrite, a resident of Cuyler, NY

Ronald Comins, a resident of Syracuse, NY

Aaron Devereaux, a resident of Syracuse, NY

Ward Coughlin, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Staci Fowlston, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Loretta Goedel, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Jennifer Green, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Jamie Gregory, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Shannon Ingalls, a resident of Sherburne, NY

John Lathrop, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Bradley McDaniel, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Heather Miller, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Sandra Rogers, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Jonathan Ryan, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Brett Shedden, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Terri Smith, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Nicholas Wilcox, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Dan Cleveland, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Penny Kuhn, a resident of Sherburne, NY

Taylor Harper, a resident of Sherburne, NY

 

SUNY Canton Students Recognized for Academic Achievement

SUNY Canton recently recognized students who excelled academically during the Spring 2011 semester.

To receive President’s List honors, full-time students must earn a semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. For Dean’s List, full-time students must receive a GPA of 3.25. Part-Time Honors are awarded to students earning at least a 3.25 GPA on six to 11 credit hours.

Among the students who earned honors for academics were:

Gregory T. Battaglia of Syracuse NY, a SUNY Canton Criminal Investigation major made Dean’s List. Battaglia is a 2008 graduate of Solvay High School. This student also graduated from SUNY Canton in May.

Lillian R. Brann of Syracuse, a SUNY Canton Veterinary Science Technology major made Dean’s List. Brann is a 2007 graduate of Solvay High School. This student also graduated from SUNY Canton in May.

 

Local Student Named to President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University

The following local student has been named to the President’s List for the spring 2011 semester at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.  To be eligible for this honor, a student must compile an academic grade point average of 3.5-4.0.

Rachel Poppe of Syracuse, elementary education.

 

Area Students Win Brockport Scholarships

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, has awarded scholarships to members of its incoming freshman class who have demonstrated academic excellence.

Joel Lester of Manlius, NY was awarded the Presidential Scholarship.

Michael Natoli of Manlius, NY was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship.

Sean Sorrento of Manlius, NY was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship.

Emily Wisbey of Manlius, NY was awarded the Presidential Scholarship.

Joelle Clark of Sherburne, NY was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship.

Brockport awards three different types of scholarships to its incoming freshman. Freshman must live on-campus in order to be considered for the awards.

Its Presidential Scholarship is awarded to freshmen who have a high school average of 93 or higher, rank in the top 20 percent of their class and scored either a 1,200 or higher on their SAT exam or 26 or higher on their ACT exam.

Brockport’s Dean’s Scholarship goes to freshmen who are in the top 25 percent of their class, have a 90 or higher average and scored either an 1,100 or higher on their SAT exam or 24 or higher on their ACT exam.

The Recognition Scholarship is awarded to freshman who hail from outside of New York State and have demonstrated superior academic achievement throughout their high school program.

 

Local Students Awarded SUNY Cortland Graduate Degrees

SUNY Cortland awarded 296 master’s degrees and 24 certificates of advanced study at Commencement ceremonies on May 20. The following local residents were awarded graduate degrees.

David Clark Kerwin, a resident of Manlius, N.Y., received a Master of Arts in Teaching

Emily Rachael Smuckler, a resident of Syracuse, N.Y., received a Master of Science in Teaching

 

Local Students Awarded SUNY Cortland Undergraduate Degrees

The following local residents were among the 1,517 SUNY Cortland students who were awarded their baccalaureate degrees at Commencement ceremonies on May 21.

Jennifer Rachael Schuss, a resident of Manlius, N.Y., received a Bachelor of Arts.

Amy Marasia, a resident of Manlius, N.Y., received a Bachelor of Science.

Sarah Margarate Appleton, a resident of Cuyler, N.Y., received a Bachelor of Science.

John Otis Burt Jr. a resident of Syracuse, N.Y., received a Bachelor of Science.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Promoted at Herkimer College

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 15, 2011)  Herkimer County Community College has announced the recent promotion of Julie Todd, Herkimer, to the position of assistant director of human resources. Todd has served as the College’s human resource specialist for the past nine years.

HCCC President Ann Marie Murray said, “I am pleased Julie has accepted this promotion and am confident her professional experience, service skills and commitment to excellence will serve the needs of our College and workforce extremely well.”

Todd holds a B.S. from Utica College of Syracuse University and M.S. from Chapman University. Her duties as assistant director will include benefits administration for all employees.

HCCC Board of Trustees to Meet

(Herkimer, NY— Sept. 2011) The Herkimer County Community College Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, Sept . 22 at 6:00 pm in the Robert McLaughlin College Center, room 116.