Business owners, casino workers and government representatives came together to get to know Central New York a little better today. Eyewitness News Reporter Rachel Polansky explains.
Kevin Parker, a long-time Utica resident says, "One of the things I love about New York state is we have the best fishing, we have museums everywhere. There's something for everybody within a hour of whichever direction you go."
Oneida County Tourism and Mohawk Valley Community College held their Local Familiarization Tour today. Both area residents and people who work in the community got the chance to stop by popular area attractions and landmarks in Central New York.
Carolyn DeJohn, a coordinator of the events says, "It's a tour around Oneida County, showing all the hightlights that we have here and all the great destinations. It's basically geared toward people who are in contact with customers, so they can see what we have to offer and then bring it out to our community."
For a conceirge who works at the Turning Stone Casino, he says the tour gave him helpful information he can use at work.
Joseph Lanza, a conceirge and resident of Herkimer says, "There is so much that you don't even need to leave the state for, that people travel across the county for, you can stay in your own backyard, and drive about 15 minutes away and get the same experience."
Whether you're a long-time resident, a tourist, or brand new to the community like myself, everyone can enjoy the sites that Central New York has to offer. Participants got a behind the scenes look at the F.X. Matt Brewery, a visit to the Stanley and Capitol Theatres, a drive through the beautiful Sylvan Beach and they even got to learn about plant hydroponics at the Aqua Vita Farm.
Parker adds, "A lot of people miss the things that are in their own backyard. I've learned this by traveling all over. I decided today would be a good experience to go out and find things I havent seen before and I actually did. I learned a few things I never knew about the area before."
Area residents and workers in the community agree that you don't have to be a tourist to appreciate all the gems Central New York has to offer.
This very warm and very muggy air-mass continues to only get more so, through Thursday, and when combined with daytime heating, and little disturbed pockets moving through the atmosphere, when they...
The Trenton Town Supervisor accused of sexually abusing a young boy
began his trial today. Mark Scheidelman was in Oneida County court this
morning for a single charge of first-degree sexual is...
When everyone is running away.. they're the ones running toward the fires, floods, and shootings. Red Cross is implementing a new program to increase volunteerism in Central New York. They've an for...
Today marks the start of 'Small Business Week' across the entire state. In Herkimer County, the Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to shop locally by hosting different events all week In a...
12 of the world's elite
PGA golfers are to compete in this year's NB3 Foundation Challenge.
Oneida Nation
Representative Ray Halbritter and four-time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay the details...
Turning Stone Resort &
Casino is getting ready to open its multi-million dollar entertainment
facility, Exit 33.
Officials say everything
is going as planned, but they are looking to a...
Friday marks the 17th annual Ride for Missing Children. Over 400 riders participated in the 90 mile ride, each of them hoping to raise more awareness on missing children across the Kozkiewicz...
The ink has barely dried on the agreement between New York and the
Oneida Indian Nation, but people are showing strong reaction already.
The agreement says it will give Oneida Nation exclusive a...
The village of Whitesboro is about to celebrate its 200th Birthday. That's why some community members are holding a Bicentennial Parade and ceremony kicking off the celebrations on Sunday, June the...
When everyone is running away.. they're the ones running toward the fires, floods, and shootings. Red Cross is implementing a new program to increase volunteerism in Central New York. They've created an on-call program for their Disaster Response Team; those are the volunteers that respond to day-to-day accidents. Members will be on-call for one full week at a time and then off for 3 weeks. Coordinators say this will provide more structure to the Red Cross and more responsibility for volunteers.
"Having a small group of 6-10 people is fine and we could cover the 2 counties that way. But we'd like to have a big bench so if something happens like the Herkimer shooting, we're not relying on 6-10 people. Now we have 20-30 responders and they can help us with those," says Rich Hajeris, Red Cross Emergency Service Manager.
Coordinators say this new program will require more staffing though and that's why they're urging people to volunteer today.
For more information, visit: www.redcross.org/ny/utica and/or www.redcross.org/ny/syracuse
Today marks the start of 'Small Business Week' across the entire state. In Herkimer County, the Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to shop locally by hosting different events all week long. In honor of Main Street Monday, Eyewitness News visits an Ilion restaurant who says this week has a big impact on owners, as well as community members.
"We're giving people a different variety and with our product , we've very personal, we like to take care of our customers. Something special, fresh cooked, and just taking care of our customers like we do our family members," says Kelley Holmes-Morton, owner of Froggy's Take-Out in Ilion.
Complete week-long schedule of events:
May 20th: Main Street Monday- encouraging residents to shop locally May 21st: Tidy-Up Tuesday- Deb Cabral the DeClutter Coach hosts efficiency consulting at HCCC 8:30am May 22nd: Wine & Dine Wednesday- encouraging residents to support local restaurants May 23rd: Thank you Thursday- Find out how HCCC can help your business at an Evening Reception 5:30-7:30pm May
24th: Fun Friday- Stop in the Chamber Office for additional information
from week's events and grab some coffee and a doughnut 7:30-9:30am
For more information, visit: http://www.herkimercountychamber.com/
12 of the world's elite
PGA golfers are to compete in this year's NB3 Foundation Challenge.
Oneida Nation
Representative Ray Halbritter and four-time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay III
announced the details for the 6th annual event today.
The tournament will be led
by Tiger Woods and other stars like Rickie Fowler and KJ Choi.
The Athletes playing this
year will represent three teams, Team USA, Team Asia and Team International.
"Spectators who are
fortunate to get tickets and come are going to be treated to some of the best
golf they will see in this area for a long time. These guys are competitors. They
want to come out and don't want to lose to the other team. So, these guys are
going to come out and do their best and put on a good show," said Begay.
The event raise awareness
and funding for the health and wellness of Native American Youth on Indian
Reservations across the country.
The NB3 Foundation
Challenge is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28th.
Turning Stone Resort &
Casino is getting ready to open its multi-million dollar entertainment
facility, Exit 33.
Officials say everything
is going as planned, but they are looking to hire more people. The Oneida
Nation is looking to fill over 100 part-time full-time positions ranging from
club managers to cooks.
"You just have to be
fun and outgoing. We don't really look for a lot of experience. We just want
people that have a fun attitude and are willing to learn," said Jerry Marrello,
Sr. Entertainment Operations Manager.
If you are interested, a
job fair will be going on until 8 p.m. Monday night in the Oneida Room at
Turning Stone.
The ink has barely dried on the agreement between New York and the
Oneida Indian Nation, but people are showing strong reaction already.
The agreement says it will give Oneida Nation exclusive gaming rights in
exchange for revenue sharing with county and state governments. Is it
jackpot or bust? Community members and lawmakers have mixed opinion.
Judy Bachmann is the chairman of the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, and she has big concerns about the agreement.
"It
says they lost! The court says the counties are entitled to their
money!" says Judy Bachman, chairman of the Citizens Equal Rights
Alliance.
Bachmann is referring to the Oneida Nation Supreme
Court case in 2011, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the tribe
with regard to land claim issues dating back to 1974. She says she
doesn't know why the governor is getting involved now.
"The issue
is not whether or not the Oneidas are going to get land. The issue is
whether there is federal oversight in the area," says Bachmann.
Bachmann says her biggest concerns in the agreement are the land claim issues because she says there aren't any.
"I
think the reason they're using a land claim situation is because of a
federal law, Indian gaming regulatory act, that allows a Governor to
negotiate a compact to settle a land claim," says Bachmann.
"The
land claim was settled. Its the phrasing of it. There are land issues,
there are land and trust issues, there are foreclosure issues on the
property," says Anthony Picente, (R) Oneida County Executive.
The County Executive says it's an agreement on revenue and land, and that no party is getting exactly what it wants.
"Can't
have it both ways. Can't get money, can't get a settlement, can't move
on and still sue the Oneidas and still challenge those issues? That's
what a settlement is, like any other negotiation," says County Executive
Picente.
But Bachmann questions the timing of the agreement. In
February, the Supreme Court postponed a decision to hear a case
regarding the Nation until it heard the Solicitor General's view on the
issue, and that view could be made public soon.
"I don't think it
should be pulled before the Solicitors' opinion comes in. I don't think
it should be pulled at all. If we go to court and we have our fair time
to argue this this and we lose, we lose. And if we go to court and we
have our fair time to argue this this and we win, we win," says
Bachmann.
"I cant keep living in the past and if we lose, we lose
and the train has left the station on this deal and then we get
nothing. And would they rather have nothing? 100% of zero is still
zero." says County Executive Picente. Portions
of
the settlement will require New York State Legislative approval,
approvals by Madison County and Oneida County, Department of Interior,
the New York State Attorney General, as well as judicial approval. The
agreement is not effective until these approvals
are secured.
The village of Whitesboro is about to celebrate its 200th Birthday. That's why some community members are holding a Bicentennial Parade and ceremony kicking off the celebrations on Sunday, June 9th.
"The reason we're asking the community is because it is their village, they'll be celebrating their 200th birthday as well. We wanted to really celebrate it with a huge parade and week-long celebration," says Dave Glenn, Whitesboro trustee and Bicentennial Committee member.
The Bicentennial Committee is seeking groups or
organizations interested in marching in the Bicentennial Parade on Sunday, June
9th. The parade starts at 1:30 PM and proceeds along Main Street from Watkins Street to the Village Green.
Interested groups can contact the committee by sending an email to whtboro@roadrunner.com or by calling the Village Office at 315-736-1613.
The parade is sponsored by the Village of Whitesboro Bicentennial Committee and the Whitesboro Historical Society.
The grand marshal is Margaret Stephenson, longtime resident and former Village of Whitesboro Trustee.
Following the parade, there will be a ceremony and the dedication and unveiling of a new monument in the Village Green.
