(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 29, 2011) State Police arrested Jennifer R. Riesel, 28, of 8 Furnace St. in Little Falls for second-degree Murder, a class “A” felony.

The investigation has revealed that Nelson may have asked Riesel to end his life, according to police. She would in return receive a financial gain from his death.  It appears Nelson was laying on the ground with his feet and hands tied.  Riesel then intentionally ran over him with a car causing his death. She is currently being held in the Herkimer County Jail.

 Original releases

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 28, 2011) - State Police are now investigating the death of 74 year-old, Francis R. Nelson from 132 Loomis Street in Little Falls as a homicide.  Due to the ongoing investigation more detailed information is not available at this time.

(Herkimer, NY- Sept. 27, 2011) - The New York State Police in Herkimer are investigating a suspicious death reported at 8:30am this morning. A landowner checking some farmland off Eatonville Road in the Town of Little Falls, Herkimer County discovered a vehicle parked off the road with a deceased male near the vehicle.

The deceased male has been identified as Francis R. Nelson, age 74, from 132 Loomis Street in Little Falls, NY. Mr. Nelson’s family members last spoke with him yesterday evening around 7pm. An autopsy will be underway shortly.

(Syracuse, NY – Sept. 28, 2011) The Central New York Region has everything a traveler could want out of a visit to New York State, from something old (historical landmarks, museums and rustic B&Bs) to something new (state-of-the-art science centers, modern theatrical performances and high-end spas). To emphasize the “something old,” the area is overflowing with quaint shops touting eclectic antiques and collectibles, offering a slice of the region’s rich past. It is truly a picker’s (and a historian’s) paradise.

For starters, the Madison-Bouckville area offers a year-round antique venue with over 30 shops featuring hundreds of dealers, plus the largest antique show in New York State every third week in August. This event, the Madison Bouckville Antique Week, draws more than 2,000 dealers for a weeklong show along one two-mile stretch of Route 20. Another superb find for antique hunters in Madison County is The Market at Oneida Commons, a neat little mall open year-round that’s packed with vintage items, crafts, jewelry, books, furniture, locally-produced Pride of NY foods and other odds and ends that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Cobbler & C. in Sharon Springs, Schoharie County, offers a treasure trove of antiques. Up on the second floor is a wide array of used, but “new to you” goods: a collection of old dishes, glassware, books, magazines and other collectibles.

In Oneida County, the Westmoreland Antique Center features 80 dealer spaces with a vast array of antiques and vintage collectibles like holiday merchandise, milk bottles, postcards and advertising collectibles, plus a vast selection of glassware, china and furniture.

Charlotte’s Antiques in Chenango County welcomes antique enthusiasts to pore over home décor, women’s clothing and jewelry, and rare collectibles, among other specialty items. For Iroquois artifacts, one-of-a-kind classics and various collectibles, Carriage Barn Antiques, Iroquois Antiques and Pheasant Farm Antiques are a few popular stops in the area.

The Little Falls Antique Center in Herkimer County showcases oldies but goodies from 18 dealers. Just a ways down the street, Stone Mill of Little Falls houses everything vintage from lighting, to clothing, to decorative arts and prints, plus local treasures like Oriental carpets from Erie Canal Carpets, sterling silver and cookbooks. The unexpected can be expected in the old factory atmosphere of this 1839 mill built on the banks of the Mohawk River, as the inventory is ever changing. Greater Binghamton’s Clinton Street, aptly named the “Antique Row,” is a hot spot for antiquing, hosting as many as 30 dealers at a given time. The locale makes perfect sense, as Clinton Street itself is an antique – it existed long before the city of Binghamton.

Cooperstown in Otsego County is saturated in antiquing opportunities. More than 50 shops line the area, from main streets to country roads, including NYS Route 7 corridor from Unadilla to Oneonta, the NYS Route 28 corridor from Oneonta to Cooperstown, and US Route 20, the road to the Madison-Bouckville Antique Show. For those seeking a myriad of vintage items, from china and glassware to historic textiles and furniture, shops like Barkley Barn Blue Ribbon Antiques, Lake Antiques and Antiques & Artifacts are must-sees. Even the antiquing venues themselves are fascinating and range from charming homes to old barns brimming with collectibles.

For some, a successful hunt for the perfect antique can take months or even years. The Central New York Region’s seemingly limitless supply of rare antiques and collectibles in dozens of shops across the area, however, can certainly help to shorten the duration of that hunt and make it quite enjoyable along the way.

For more antiquing opportunities and other information about the Central New York Region, check out:www.JustGoCNY.com.

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 27, 2011) The New York State Police in Herkimer are investigating a suspicious death reported at 8:30am Sept. 27. A landowner checking some farmland off Eatonville Road in the Town of Little Falls discovered a vehicle parked off the road with a deceased male near the vehicle.

The deceased male has been identified as Francis R. Nelson, 74, of 132 Loomis St., Little Falls.

Nelson’s family members last spoke with him the evening before around 7 p.m.

An autopsy will be underway.

Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at (315) 366-6000.

(Little Falls, NY – Sept. 2011) Melissa Clark will share her original music along with her own arrangements of cover songs stretching over several decades; acoustic blues covers of music from the Beatles, Eric Clapton, The Stones, Carole King, and other artists from the 60′s as well as Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Prine, and numerous acoustic artists.

Clark is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who also writes a gender-related column for Element Q Magazine, and has been a community activist since the 1990′s. Melissa’s “smokey” voice adds a “husky melody” line to her guitar playing.

Joining Clark for this evening will be her long time friend, Faye Brook, who has been involved in music since the 1970′s; from her music tech and recording studio days through numerous styles of guitar playing, including but not limited to traditional country, rock and roll, blues, fusion, and numerous varieties of these styles, Brook brings a full complement to Clark’s acoustic blues guitar playing, in a blend of the two, sharing their musical styles.

Brook has been active in the gender support community in the Syracuse area for over 10 years.

The show will be held at the Black Box Theatre at the Stone Mill of Little Falls, 2nd floor, 410 Canal Place on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.

Advance tickets sell for $8, or $10 at the door.

For more information, call 823-0208.

(Sept. 2011) These sessions familiarize those interested in becoming NYS certified family or group family child care providers with the application process, NYS regulations and services available to assist in start-up and beyond! Presented by Child Care Council staff

Dates, times & locations:
Herkimer County Sessions:
Wed., September 14 from 1 pm – 3 pm @ Basloe Library in Herkimer
Wed., September 21 from 6 pm – 8 pm @ Middleville Library
Wed., October 12 from 6 pm – 8 pm @ Little Falls Library
Thurs., November 17 from 6 pm – 8 pm @ Iion Library
Wed., December 14 from 6 pm – 8 pm @ Basloe Library in Herkimer

Madison County Sessions:
Wed., September 14 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. @ Chittenango Library
Wed., October 12 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. @ Hamilton Library
Wed., November 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. @ Canastota Library
Wed., December 14 from 5 p.m.to 7 p.m. @ Chittenango Library

Oneida County Sessions:
Thursday, Sept. 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ Waterville Library
Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon @ Remsen Train Station
Wed, Nov. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ Farm & Home Center, Oriskany
Wed., December 21, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ the Utica Public Library
Tues., January 24 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ Farm & Home Center, Oriskany
Sat. February 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon @ Jervis Library, Rome
Tues., March 27 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. @ Boonville Library, Boonville

Fee: no fee, however, pre-registration is required by calling Tammy at

223-7850 x 222.

Pictured from top Andrews, Franco and Bushinger.

(Little Falls, NY – Aug. 2011) Day, Scarafile & Read, Inc. announces the addition of three staff members to their team of insurance professionals. Joining the firm are Theresa Franco, Teresa Andrews and Brett Bushinger.

Theresa Franco, insurance consultant/customer service representative, joined Day, Scarafile & Read Inc. in September 2010. Franco will be handling clients’ personal lines insurance needs out of the Marcy office. She possesses the New York State Property and Casualty insurance license and has six years of insurance and financial services experience. Previously she was with Met Life Auto and Home Insurance in Utica as a sales consultant and was a loan officer and insurance representative for CitiFinancial in New Hartford. A graduate of Mohawk Central Schools, Franco also studied communications at Herkimer County Community College and business at Tarrant College in Fort Worth, Texas.

Teresa Andrews, insurance consultant/customer representative, joined Day, Scarafile & Read Inc. in May 2011. Andrews will be servicing clients in the Marcy office. Licensed in New York State for Property and Casualty insurance, she has more than a decade of insurance experience, having served clients in independent insurance agencies prior to joining Met Life’s Property and Casualty Sales Division in 2001.  A graduate of Fulton Montgomery Community College, Andrews holds an associate’s degree in Business and Purchasing.

Brett Bushinger joined Day, Scarafile & Read Inc. in June 2011 as a personal lines account executive.  Licensed in New York State for personal lines insurance, Brett has more than eight years of insurance experience. Prior to joining Day, Scarafile & Read Inc., he was a personal lines account executive at Bailey, Haskell and LaLonde Insurance Agency located in New Hartford.  He also was employed at New York Central Mutual in Edmeston, New York, as an underwriter. Brett graduated from Sauquoit Valley High School and received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from Siena College in Loudonville, New York.

Day, Scarafile & Read, Inc. offices are located in Rome, Marcy, Utica, Ilion and Little Falls.

(Little Falls, NY – Aug. 2011) The powerhouse duo of Amy Gallatin and renowned resophonic guitarist Roger Williams joined forces a few years ago to explore their mutual love of country standards, served up with an acoustic treatment in the bluegrass vein. The result is a toe-tapping blend of heartfelt vocals, soaring harmonies and red-hot picking, traditional yet modern and distinct.

Amy has been a staple on the acoustic music scene since her arrival in New England from Montana in 1993 with her shimmering, heartfelt vocals and quality song selections. Veteran bluegrasser Roger, long known for his masterful touch on the resophonic guitar during his tenure with White Mountain Bluegrass, Southern Rail, Blue Diamond and the New England Bluegrass Band, is now coming into his own as a vocalist and songwriter. Together Amy and Roger blend their voices in classic country duets old and new along with showcasing many of Roger’s originals.

Americana radio host Ed McKeon says: ”Amy’s vocals, with the power and tone of her voice, are tempered by Roger’s baritone which has been sanded smooth by cigarettes and, shall we say, maturity. The song selections are perfect, the harmonies glorious, the sentiments wonderfully maudlin (like any good old country song).”

The two are enhanced by the recent addition of Roger’s son J.D., who–in the time-honored tradition of musical consanguinity–complements his father’s style perfectly, and by veteran bassist Eric Levenson, formerly with Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys and later with Boston City Limits.

Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters will be performing at the Black Box Theatre on Friday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m., 410 Canal Place (2nd floor), Little Falls.

Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.ticketderby.com or by calling the Inn at 823-0208.  Doors open at 7:30 (limited seating).  Advanced tickets are $12, or $15 at the door.

(Richfield Springs, NY – July 2011) Beat the heat on Sunday, July 24 with an evening Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs minor league baseball game featuring milk and cookies and Cabot Cheese complimentary refreshments. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field in Little Falls, NY.

“It’s going to be a great night of baseball. Our dairy promotion team has a lively line-up of games to remind you that milk and dairy products can be a healthy snack during any outing,” says Jennifer Hula, Herkimer County Dairy Princess. “No matter what your age, keep your body healthy by having three servings of milk and dairy products each day.”

Contestants will be sought for the games that include pizza box races, milk chugging from baby bottles, cup stacking and wheelbarrow races with milk can obstacles. And keep your eye out for the mascot duel between our Cow and the DiamondDawg.

Giveaways at the gate include baseballs and “got milk” wristbands compliments of Herkimer County Farm Bureau and Herkimer County Dairy promotion, respectively.

Specials thanks goes to the Herkimer Vet Associates for being lead coordinator of Dairy Night and thank you to these sponsors for supporting our event: Ag Radio Network, Gehring Farm and Insight Dairy of Little Falls, Kirk Schwasnick, Herkimer Co. Legislature, Saunders Sears in Herkimer and Stizel’s Waterpoint Farm.

Herkimer County is one of many counties across New York State coordinating dairy promotion activities for explaining dairy farmers understand the importance of protecting our natural resources and their commitment for providing high-quality milk begins with top-notch care of their cows.

To invite the Dairy Princess and members of her court to speak to your school, church, Rotary/Lions Club, share recipes, or participate in an event, please contact Mitzi Hula at (315) 858-0074 or hcdairyprincess@hotmail.com.

To see the complete DiamondDawg game schedule, visit www.mydiamondawgs.com.

(Herkimer, NY – July 14, 2011) Several Herkimer County Community College students placed in competitive business events at the 2011 National Leadership Conference for Phi Beta Lambda, held recently in Orlando, Florida. Phi Beta Lambda is an  organization for business students. In order to participate in nationals, you must place first in your event at the state level.

David Vail, Ilion, placed fifth at nationals in Computer Concepts and 10^th in Network Design along with Nicholas Cook, Little Falls and Anthony Mazza, Frankfort. All are computer network technician majors.

Also competing were Gavin Larish, Frankfort, a computer support specialist major; and Jordanna Dodge, Frankfort, a May 2011 graduate of HCCC with a degree in liberal arts & sciences: communication arts: new media.

(Herkimer, NY – July 2011) Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Herkimer County will be available at area Farmers Markets this summer to promote “Eat 3 – Eat Well, Eat Local, Eat Together” as part of the Creating Healthy Places to Live Work and Play grant through NYS Department of Health awarded to Herkimer County HealthNet.

Recipes, food samples, and preservation ideas for using fresh produce will be shared along with the new 2011 Herkimer County Local Foods Map.  Free reusable grocery bags will also be available while supplies last.  CCE staff will be available at the following locations on dates and times noted.  Market hours will remain as normally scheduled.

• Dolgeville Farmers’ Market (Municipal lot, between Kinney Drugs & M&T Bank): Friday July 22 (9 am – 12 noon)
• Old Forge Farmers’ Market (Park Ave, between Crosby & Lamberton Street): Friday July 22 (2 – 5 pm)
• Herkimer Early Bird Farmers’ Market (Aubuchon Hardware, 105 N Caroline Street):  Thursday July 28 (9 – 11am)
• Herkimer Farmers’ Market (Herb Philipson’s parking lot): Thursday July 28 (11:30 am – 2pm)
• Richfield Springs Farmers’ Market (Spring Park): Saturday July 30 (9 am – 12 noon)
• Mohawk Farmers’ Market (Weller Park, West Main Street): Wednesday August 3 (2 – 5 pm)
• Little Falls Farmers’ Market (M&T Bank lot, Albany Street):  Saturday August 6 (9 am – 12 noon)

Herkimer County HealthNet, Inc., along with other agencies in NY State administers the Creating Healthy Places Grant to Live, Work, & Play grant to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes by increasing physical activity and increasing healthy eating.  Herkimer County HealthNet has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County in an effort to promote healthy eating and increasing the use of farmers’ markets.

For additional information about the “Eat 3” Farmers’ Market programs, please call Cornell Cooperative Extension at (315) 866-7920.  For more information about the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play in Herkimer County grant, please call (315) 867-1499.