RTN 667.1 SPRING 2008

One Man Uplifts the South Side

2008-04-28T23:17:00.033-04:00

Purchasing one building at a time

Joyce Ogirri
NCC News Reporter

Syracuse, NY - Pastor Daren Jaime is on a mission. He ministers to the People’s A.M.E. Zion Church, the oldest African American church in Onondaga County. Pastor Jaime wants to help restore family values by reversing the culture of crime and violence on the South Side of Syracuse.

Rebuilding the South Side
“Now what we're in the process of doing, actually taking our rightful place in the community giving it new life putting a new spin on it," said Pastor Jaime.

That new spin includes turning the parking lot and rundown houses surrounding the People’s Church into affordable housing. And transforming the rundown brick building directly across from People’s Church into a place where young people can start their own business. South Side families, Jaime says, should spend their money here and not in other parts of Syracuse.

“It's important you invest in where you live and home is where your heart is,” said Pastor Jaime.

Activities in the Church
He decided to start at People's Church by having a clothing drive. Lenora Rice has five grandchildren to care for. She says this drive has made it much easier.

"We as parents, grandparents a lot of us is raising kids and it's hard. We are on set incomes. It helps us dress our kids properly," said Rice.

Pastor Jaime didn't stop there, he began a basketball ministry to teach the area's young people about the fundamentals of the game and life. This has helped Marquie Little go in the right direction.

"It helped me by staying out of trouble, having my head clear, focusing on school. Having people who care about me and having fun," said Little.

What He Means To The Church
Members of People’s Church say these changes are the result of one man’s faith in an area that most have written off. Darlene Kinsey has been a member for 50 years where she has witnessed the ups and downs. But she says they are on an up swing.

"God has sent us a Shepherd who has been able to watch over his sheep and teach the biblical way of learning and living through the Bible," said Kinsey.

Pastor Daren Jaime will continue to buy property on the South Side. He says economic and community developments are two of the biggest pieces that have to happen.

“We need to bring business that will sustain life into the community. It has to be attractive to the community at large,” said Pastor Jaime.

Sudanese Lost Boys Give Back to Homeland

2008-04-24T16:56:00.011-04:00

How Lost Boys Give back to Sudan from CNY
by: Harold R. Kuntz, III
April 24th, 2008

A Civil War raged in Sudan, leading to over 2 million death. Once the war came to an end, some of the southern Sudanese people made there way to America. About 150 of them were called Lost Boys, and arrived in Syracuse. They have created different ways to raise money to give back to their homeland in despair.

John Dau was featured in the 2007 documentary "God Grew Tired of Us." The documentary explained how Dau and other Lost Boys traveled through an almost one-thousand mile trek from Sudan, Ethiopia, to Kenya before arriving to America.

John Dau set up the John Dau Sudan Foundation. The foundation has raised almost half-a-million dollars so far. He spoke as part of the "Save Darfur" week at Morrisville State College this past week. He said, "never give up." He went on to talk more about what drives him to give back to his homeland. "It is a first step because really, we african, we believe in just helping each other. We believe in what we call extended family. We believe in we, not I," said Dau.

He received a check from the African-American Alliance at Morrisville State for $400 dollars that evening. The money is going to help medical and educational opportunites for citizens in southern Sudan.

As part of an operation by Andrews Memorial United Methodist church, Dut Deng will return to Sudan to assess his homeland's health conditions and start a health clinic. The inspiration to start the clinic came after he learned his niece died three years ago. He is excited about the opportunity to start giving back. "It's a celebration, It's wonderful. When you dream about something and it came to reality," said Deng.

Dut Deng and his friend Mayol Malik both started asking the church for fundraising a trip to Sudan. The church welcomed the idea with open arms and started the fundraising three years ago. Reverend Bradford Hunt said, "These boys, they come in, and they get it themselves, establish it, they want to make a differenceto their own people."

John Dau Sudan Foundation is located at the United Way of Syracuse. Dut Deng and Mayol Malik will return from Sudan this week.

Why do pro teams in Syracuse strike out?

2008-04-22T13:43:00.004-04:00

-By Jordan Meddy

Syracuse, NY - For a sports fan in Syracuse, the upcoming summer could be as bleak as the winter just survived. Soon the Chiefs will be the only option for those looking for game action. And no one knows that better than Shane Sutliff, who says he attends every Syracuse sporting event he can.

Sutliff has seen many teams come and go over the years. He witnessed the ordeal of the Syracuse Raging Bullz, the pro basketball team formed in July 2007, that folded after playing only two home games.

“I was not happy,” said Sutliff. “I will not describe in some of the words I would like to of my rage at them folding. But I was outraged.” Sutliff was one of about two dozen who purchased season tickets for the Bullz.

The Salty Dogs also once called Syracuse home, but the professional soccer team faltered financially after two seasons, from 2003 to 2004. “We built a very, very good team here,” said Tommy Tanner, a former player, coach, and general manager of the team. “And it was a shame we had to stop because we had a chance to go on. And if you win Syracuse will support you.”

So why is it so hard for many teams to stay afloat. Well, the mountain they must climb has a lot to do with a hill, the SU hill. “It’s probably like a lot of towns where the college is a big deal,” said Nolan Weidner, former sportswriter for The Post-Standard. “The college sports become the main attraction, at least for the sports that do well.”

Ninety miles to the west in Rochester, the picture is somewhat brighter. Fans can enjoy minor league baseball and hockey, but the city also offers pro basketball and soccer teams, indoor and outdoor lacrosse, and an arena football team. And teams have learned lessons that could help current and future professional teams in Syracuse.

“We went after soccer moms and soccer dads and the young families that are just experiencing soccer,” said Sam Fantuzzo, vice-president of the Rochester Rhinos soccer team. “The music at the game and the mascots, we tried to make it about more family fun. And I think that was a big part of our success.”

Back in Syracuse, Sutliff says he believes pro teams can compete with SU athletics. “If a team is going to make it here, you’ve got to market. You’ve got to market the team and have very good customer service,” he said.

But for now the city’s biggest sports fan looks ahead to another quiet summer. Waiting, hoping for someone to cheer for.

Black Belt Mama's

2008-04-22T12:12:00.016-04:00

Middle-age women using the martial arts to fight off aging

By Taisha Walker, NCC News

Syracuse, NY Nancy Chappell has been a student of the martial arts for 7 years. Infact, she is even a second-degree black belt. Chappell loves doing karate but also likes being a teacher. She teaches dental assisting on the BOCES camps in Liverpool. What most people do not know about Chappell is that this 47-year old practices karate with her 17-year old son, Christopher.

"I don't think of her as my mom at the dojo. She's just like another person I train with, it's like another friend " said Christopher.

While being able to build a stronger relationship with her son was rewarding, Nancy also said she enjoyed the bond between herself and the other women in her Karate class. Nancy and the other three women in her class, Liana Person, 35, Maybelle Oros 59, Stacy Karpinski 49, are part of a group called "The Sweat Sisters."

"The Sweat Sisters" is a group of women between the age of 35 and 63 who practice karate at Tearney's Karate in Camillus.

"Most of them have been training for 6 years together. They all built a great bond with one another and great friends, that's how we've developed the Sweat Sister mindset. They all come in together and become sisters in the martial arts together" said Carlos Tearney, Head INstructor at Tearney's Karate.

All of the women all have sons who train in the martial arts as well. For Nancy, Christopher was her inspiration.

"I actually watched my son do karate for over 4 years and I thought I can do that. Then I turned 40 and it was my 40th birthday gift to myself; I figured it was now or never."

And after 7 years, Nancy is as passionate about karate now as she was the moment she started. She said it has changed her mentally, physically and has even given her new found confidence. Karate has changed Nancy's life for the better.

And it doesn't seem as if Nancy plans to give up karate anytime soon.

"I don't see myself ever stopping. We've had 2 older men get their black belts, one is 70, one is 77. I look at them as my role model that means I still have 30 more years " said Nancy.

Lacrosse: More than a game

2008-04-21T18:56:00.004-04:00

The Onondaga Nation has produced some of the world's greatest lacrosse players but there is more

By Richard Zussman

NEDROW, NY - They say they play the game for medicine and that it is the game of the creator. The young play. And so do the old. But the game of Lacrosse is more than a game. It is part of who the people of the Onondaga Nation are. Neal Powless is one of the greatest lacrosse players of his generation. He was named an all world attack man in 2002. "It is a community, it is our culture, it is our heritage." Powless said.

The Creator's Game

The people of the Onondaga call lacrosse the game made by the creator. They also say he was a lacrosse player. Jerome Thompson is one of the bright stars of the Onondaga Nation and was a key part to OCC's championship season last year. "We play to make the creator happy." he said "If we play with an open mind and not to hurt people he will be happy." The game is played by the men of the Nation. And part of growing up with the game is understanding the important religious role of the sport.

The Medicine Game

Lacrosse players from the nation believe lacrosse has special healing powers. When a member of the community is sick the players bring the individual to the lacrosse game. Tobacco leaves are lit and players play with the traditional wooden stick. The ritual is said to have healing powers. Alf Jacques makes the wooden sticks. He has been doing it for more than 50 years and inherited the job from his father. The game for Jacques doesn't just have a role in an individuals time on earth but during the afterlife as well. "When you die you are buried with your stick." he said "Because you are going yo play lacrosse in the after life."

Staying out of trouble

Lacrosse at the Onondaga Nation also acts as a way out. For Powless lacrosse is way out of life in trouble. "If you take care of yourself, and watch what you do yo might be able to do something not a lot of people can do." He said "And at the very least you can get an education." The game of lacrosse has helped the youth of the Onondaga Nation stay out of drugs and alcohol and get a college education.

Bad Credit? Lets make a deal

2008-04-21T18:50:00.005-04:00

How to make sure the car dealer doesn't win.

By Ted Johnsen

Syracuse, NY: You've probably seen the latest craze in automobile commercials. The ones that say "Bad credit? No problem."

But whats the catch? Gary Thurber works for a credit counseling service in Syracuse, and sees many people getting tricked into buying cars they cant afford. "Typically it's the payment, they forget to look at the interest rate or how long the loan is for," he said.

"If you don't read the rate of interest and term lengths, you will be taken advantage of," said Randy Elder, a finance professor at Syracuse University's Whitman School.

For example, let's take a car valued at $11,490. The bank could charge the customer a 20 percent interest rate. But, to shield the cost of the car, the dealer might suggest a loan paid back over 7 years. That way the monthly payment looks reasonable at $255. However, by the time the car is paid off, the buyer will have spent nearly double its original cost at $21,431.

What to watch out for
Car experts say there are a few of things to watch out for before agreeing to the interest rate and length of the loan. "You need to know what your credit score is," said Evie Hayden, a saleswoman at a local Volvo dealership. She said you can check your credit score for free every six months at annualcreditreport.com. She suggested buyers should also ask their bank what kind of an interest rate they'd be willing to offer, before going to the dealer.

Another thing to watch out for is the length of the loan. Experts say you dont want to take out a loan for more than 5 years, because they say you probably wont even own the car in five years. They say you don't want to be paying for a car you dont even drive anymore.

Have to be prepared
Car experts say to make sure you avoid being taken advantage of, you have to do your homework.

And if you're unsure about whether you can afford that car payment or not, credit counselors have a tip. "Practice. Before you go and buy that new car- if you think you can afford that 250 dollar payment- put that money aside in a savings account for 6 months. That way if you didn't have to touch the money, you know you're probably ready to buy a car, and plus you have a down payment," said Thurber.

And if practice makes perfect, you won't need to worry about missing a payment, and further damaging your credit score.

Syracuse Lacks Professional Sports Teams

2008-04-21T18:23:00.010-04:00

Syracuse-April 21, 2008- With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner there are very few professional sports teams available for people to go see in Syracuse.

Going to a Syracuse Sky Chiefs game and enjoying a warm weather day doesn't cost a lot of money. But what if you don't like baseball and want to watch another sport this summer in Syracuse? Well, you can't. The Chiefs and the Crunch are the only professional teams left in town. Last year, the Raging Bullz ceased operations after playing only two home games. The ABA franchise cited poor attendance as the reason.

Fans Let Down

But one former team had the fan support. The Syracuse Salty Dogs drew some of the largest crowds in the league but folded nearly four years ago because of financial problems. Shane Sutliff went to a lot of their games and he was less than happy when they left.
"I was furious about the Salty Dogs," he said. "I was just ticked off."

College Town

Syracuse University athletics are understandably the big dog in town so it's no surprise the two successful professional teams in Syracuse play sports that the university doesn't offer on the division one level. Even the Chiefs have problems drawing many people. So why does Syracuse have trouble keeping professional sports teams? "Probably like a lot of towns where college is a big deal or certainly a big part of the community here, the college sports become the main attraction at least for the sports that do well," Nolan Weidner, writer for The Post-Standard said.
Rochester has 7 professional teams, ranging from basketball to arena football. The Rochester Razorsharks draw about 5,000 fans per home game. So what do these franchises do that future Syracuse teams can copy?
"We went after the soccer moms, and the soccer dads, and the young families that are just experiencing soccer, the music at the games, and the mascots, and we try to make it more family fun," Sam Fantuzzo, VP for the Rochester Rhinos, said.

Ways to Succeed

Sutliff says the playoff-bound Crunch are a model of how a professional team can succeed in Syracuse.
"They started marketing the team from the get-go and not marketing just in the Syracuse area, they nationally marketed the team, all over the place, throughout the whole American Hockey League," he said. And even though the Salty Dogs are long gone, Shane still has his memories. At least that can't be taken away from him.

The Creator's Game

2008-04-20T23:51:00.004-04:00

Nedrow NY- It's the fastest growing sport in the country. Though typically associated with east coast private school culture, lacrosse still means as much to some native communities as it did centuries ago. To the Onondaga Nation, lacrosse is a game that transcends its own sport. It's a path to a better future, but more importantly it's a way of life.

"It's part of our religion," said Alf Jacques, the traditional wooden stick maker for the nation. "It's in our blood, it's all encompassing. It's part of everything about who we are."

The Onondagas believe that the Creator is a lacrosse player, and the game is played for his enjoyment.

"It's more than a game to us, it ain't just lacrosse, it's a medicine game," Jeremy Thompson said.

Lacrosse is still played as a medicine game today. The Onondaga men play a traditional game every year to heal the sick. They still use the traditional wooden sticks that Alf makes. Most men have a wooden stick from the time they are born and carry it throughout their entire life.

"When you die you're buried with your stick, you're in the casket with your stick, because you're gonna play lacrosse in the afterlife," Jacques said.

A Path to A Better Future

In the shadows of Syracuse lies a sovereign nation. On the Onondaga Nation there are no written laws, no police, no taxes. Instead the reservation is ridden with poverty, alcoholism and a lack of education.

"Most of the kids around here, all their parents grew up and they might just even graduate from high school and that's good enough for them," Jerome Thompson said. "They come back here and get a job on the res and that's good enough for them, it's easier. You don't have to pay taxes you don't have to do any of that, it's just easier, and their kids do the same thing."

Only a quarter of all Native Americans make it to college, according to a study on the status of Native Americans in Science and Engineering. But, for some lacrosse is a chance to break the detrimental cycle of life on the reservation.

Education is why four men are enshrined on the walls of the nation arena. Neal Powless, Travis Soloman, Gewas Schindler and Marshall Abrams are role models not because they played professional lacrosse but because they graduated from college.

"For me it's opened doors," Powless said.

Lacrosse is opening doors for the Thompson brothers who plan to play and study at Syracuse next year. Their father is an iron worker and didn't know about college when he was younger. Now he wants his boys to go.

"He wants us to go beyond what he did because all he did was graduate from high school, so he wants us to go on and use the game of lacrosse and get an education out of it," Jeremy said.

The Thompson brothers hope that their education at Syracuse helps get their pictures on the wall of the arena. No matter what they know they're getting an education and making their Creator happy by playing his game.

Inflation Hits Close to Home

2008-04-20T22:55:00.002-04:00

By Sujata Khandelwal
Central New York-With the economic slowdown leaving few untouched and the United States wrestling with the worst food inflation in seventeen years, low-income residents of central New York are making some tough choices just to put food on the table.

“Taking it one day at a time.”
Single mom, Deborah Wrightson, never thought she would have to make a decision between eating or heating her two-bedroom home. “I have to turn the heat off and my son says ‘Mom, I’m cold,’ and I say I know honey, but it’s expensive,” said Wrightson. Wrightson and her son Anthony are among hundreds of central New Yorkers trying to survive a struggling economy. According to a recent article on MSNBC, overall food prices this year have soared 5 percent as compared with the average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last fifteen years.

Local Organizations
For central New York families, who cannot continue to absorb the rising cost of groceries, there are several organizations lending a helping hand. The Food Bank of Central New York sponsors a food pantry everyday at various locations in the region. Pastor Claire Pietra of Valley Worship Church organizes a food pantry at least once a week. She notices many more people coming to the pantries. “More people are using food pantries as supplemental foods rather than emergency food. Much more people are in a crisis all the time,” she said. The Samaritan Center in downtown Syracuse prepares hot meals everyday, and it, too, is serving many more people than usual.

Feeling the Pinch
Many residents in Syracuse are finding it difficult to even afford simple basic items. Eveanne Davis recently visited a food pantry for the first time. “I stopped buying the eggs, and I don’t buy the milk, and I only buy things I have to buy, the necessities,” she said. Jalica Housely is a widow living on social security. She cannot recall a more difficult time. “This is the hardest for me. It’s very hard for me right now. Like, I said, I manage though,” she said.

Although many in Syracuse continue to struggle, and perhaps wouldn’t survive without food pantries and the good will of volunteer agencies, it’s the help from above that get them through one day at a time.

Think Twice Before You Sign On The Dotted Line

2008-04-20T22:04:00.007-04:00

By Megan Eaton

Syracuse, NY-During recent economic struggles, car dealers work to peek the interest of consumers with bad credit. Their commercials promise low prices and guaranteed financing. What they don’t mention are the additional fees and interest that come with buying a car. Fees that people with good credit probably won't get charged.

HIGH RISK FACTOR
Before a customer signs on the dotted line, a car dealer has a bank run their credit score and set an interest rate. Because there can be a higher risk in collecting money from people with bad credit, banks charge them a higher rate. That's something dealers take advantage of. "It's called bumping," said LaMacchia Honda salesman Fredrick Killian.

BUMPING?

Bumping occurs when dealers add on to interest rate set by the bank. For example, if a bank approved a car loan with a twenty-two percent interest rate, the dealer can add on their own three percent.

RED FLAGS
Adding on interest isn't the only thing dealers do to make a profit. "Quoting you more than one price...running your credit right away before they show you the car...adding things on at the end they say you have to have that add on to the price...like rust protection," said Evie Hayden, a salesperson for Alan Bryer Volvo.

Potential buyers may also think it saves them money to extend the length of a car loan. But it can end up costing them much more.

DO THE MATH
For example, if a used car costs 7,990, and the bank approves you for an interest rate of 22 twenty-two percent. Then the car dealer "bumps" up the interest an additional three percent, and a buyer takes out a loan for 84 months, or seven years. The monthly payment would be 202.23 a month. However, seven years later the customer has spent 16987.32. More than double the amount of the car. That's what dealer's call being Upside Down. "It means you owe a lot more than the car is worth," Hayden said.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
"Do your homework. Make certain they're not taken advantage of. Don't buy unnecessary protections...try to get the best terms just like everyone else," said Syracuse University's finance professor Randy Elder.

That make people with bad credit smart shoppers, who are then less likely to end up further into the black hole of debt.

Running Out of Fuel

2008-04-20T21:56:00.007-04:00

Meals on Wheels is experiencing dificulties as high gas prices drive away new volunteers and boost food prices.

Arrianee LeBeau, NCC News

Loyalty in Low Numbers
Syracuse, NY- Three days a week Nann Poole of Fayettville, NY delivers meals to homebound and elderly people in Syracuse. Poole is one many volunteers who use their own cars and pay for their gas to get food out to people in need. “I love the people. Usually they are disabled unfortunately or elderly and it’s hard for them to get out and get their meals on a regular basis, she said.” She said rising gas prices will not keep her from delivering food to some of the neediest people in the community.

Poole and other volunteers said they are usually the only interaction customers have in the day with other people. “I wouldn’t know what to do without them. They’re a big help.” Anne Kicak of Syracuse, NY is on Poole’s delivery route. She has been a Meals on Wheels customer for several years and said she enjoys the time spent with Poole.

But not all volunteers share the same sentiment and are as committed as Poole. Edward Brown, the volunteer coordinator from Meals on Wheels said they are experiencing a decline in new volunteers who say they would like to volunteer but are deterred by the high gas prices.

Daily Mission
Meals on Wheels uses seventy-five volunteers a day to delivery and prepare meals. It delivers about four-hundred hot and cold dinners a day to people throughout Onondaga County. The delivery routes range from ten to forty miles round trip but with gas prices expected to reach $4.00 this summer new volunteers are not stepping up to the plate.

However, Brown said they have always managed to compensate for the lack of new volunteers. Loyal volunteers like Nann Poole as well as staff members have picked up extra routes.

Double Trouble with Gas Prices
But this has been the least of the organization’s worries because high gas prices are now increasing how much they pay for food. “What we’ve found is that the food is dependent on our vendors. And our vendors use trucks to transport. And as their cost go up so do the cost of food, said Mason Kaufman.” Kaufman is the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and said high gas prices has caused items they use for ingredients to double and triple what they budgeted. Kaufman said shipments are received daily for certain items and they must stick to a strict diet.

Meals on Wheels agreed that it fulfills a need in the community that sets out to feed people who no longer have the capacity to cook for themselves. But with gas and food prices steadily increasing it’s becoming harder to accomplish that mission.

What the Flip?

2008-04-20T20:41:00.005-04:00

Amid a national housing slump, it seems some cities in Central New York are seeing more of an up turn than a down. In Syracuse, two men are “flipping out” about this rare case.

By: Marissa Torres, NCC News

Shawn Zachary Designs

Shawn Clarke and his partner Zachary Belil began their house flipping company, Shawn Zachary Designs, more than ten years ago in New York City. In starting the company, they were able to turn their passion for home design into a profit. They soon realized however, how much more expensive it was to continue this business in NYC compared to anywhere else in the country.
“ We were at a point where we could do it here…but if we had to do the same thing in NY it would be impossible…because it would cost us a million dollars for a crappy one bedroom” says Zachary Belil.

What the Flip?

We have all seen or heard of the popular shows like “Flip this House” by A&E or “Flip that House” by TLC, but are these television series truly a reality?
According to Shawn and Zachary, it’s pretty close. While the shows make it look easier, and tend to invest much more money, it is accurate to what their company is all about. Shawn and Zachary find a classic “fixer-upper,” which is reasonably priced, and in an area they feel will be prosperous. They renovate it, re-design it, and re-sell it for a greater price. This is an attractive idea to many people looking for convenience. “They want to come in and they want buy a house and they want move in. They don’t want to buy a house and do everything from top to bottom” says Shawn.

Why Syracuse?

According to various realtors in the area, Syracuse, along with the rest of Central New York, is not following the national housing economic downturn. Jim Giannuzzi from Salt City Mortgage says the past year held a fair to good selling and buying trend. “We are very fortune because we didn’t see inflation effect the price of our houses like a lot of areas did. So it’s really not a bad market around this area” says Giannuzzi.
David Manzano, President of the Board of Realtors, says last year, the median price of a house in Syracuse was 131,000 dollars. Compared to New York City, where Shawn and Zachary began their business, the median price of a home was 440,000 dollars. Here it is much easier for them to get more “bang for their buck.”

What's the Best Level?

2008-04-20T18:27:00.012-04:00

By Sean Sadri - NCC News
April 20, 2008

Wolcott, NY - Business and property owners along Lake Ontario are finding their investments wash away with the water. Mother Nature may have a little to do with it, but shoreline erosion has been greatly accelerated since a dam was constructed to regulate the lake's water levels for international shipping. Shores and wetlands have taken a lot of the damage, and many locals think something should be done to preserve the environment.

How the Locals Feel
Wolcott resident John Mayer lives along the lake, and over the years has witnessed the land in front of his property disappear. He also has a boating business that relies on Lake Ontario, and sees a need for consistently high water levels.

"There's gotta be water management and shoreline management," Mayer said. "It's a natural resource. You've got to keep the channels open. You've got to have enough water, but too much water destroys the shoreline."

New Plans to Fix the Problem
An American and Canadian commission conducted research on the lake and made three plans to manage the waterways. The commission's research has already cost American and Canadian taxpayers $20 million. The plans were designed to be both environmental and economic, but many people have voiced opinions against these plans.

"The three plans that they came up with a year and a half ago, none of the plans were at all acceptable," said Wolcott homeowner James Quick.

Government taking action
New York Governor David Paterson has even voiced his disappointment with the newest plan, and has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for a new plan that is more environmentally conscious. Many environmental experts are concerned that the plans are ignoring the impact the water levels have on local ecosystems. Dr. John Farrell, a senior research associate at SUNY-ESF, said he is glad that the environment is finally becoming an issue with the government, after harm has been done to wildlife and wetlands around Lake Ontario.

"Clearly the environment has not been part of the process in the past," said Farrell. "One thing I like about the current plan is that they have adaptive management, and they are trying to bring the environment into the fold."

Ultimately, the debate between commercial and environmental interests will remain controversial until a new plan that suits all parties is developed.

The U.S. is battling the highest food inflation in 17 years and it could get worse.

2008-04-20T17:40:00.011-04:00

By Ashley Prchal NCC News

With America's economy in a tailspin, rising food prices are hitting low income families the hardest. In Central New York, food pantries are struggling to keep up with a new trend.

Claire Pietra is a Pastor at Valley Worship Center in Syracuse, New York. She runs the weekly food pantry.

"You're seeing more young people. More single mothers. More children coming to shop for them and their families," says Pastor Claire.

One of those is Deborah Wrightson, a single mom of 8 year old son Anthony. Deborah is on social security and workman's comp. She can't work because she hurt her back. So she must stretch $79 dollars a month in food stamps to buy groceries.

"I'm on a limited budget so you have to count every penny. And by the end of the month, the last week is very hard," says Wrightson.

Food stamps help, but a lot of families don't qualify. When it opened nearly 30 years ago, the Food Bank of Central New York was supposed to be a temporary fix for hunger. Now more people are using food pantries as supplemental foods rather than emergency food because more people are in crisis all the time.

Stephanie Crowley is Development Associate for Food Bank of CNY. She says, "We even have some people that are working two and three jobs and they are still not able to make ends meet and get enough nutritious food for their families."

The Department of Agriculture says food prices rose 4 percent last year and it's predicted to hit 4 and a half percent this year.

Organizations all over Onondaga County are feeling the pinch. Meals on Wheels is dealing with a 16 percent increase in operation costs.

Mason Kaufman is Executive Director of Meals on Wheels. He says, "It's a triple wami for us. We're seeing food prices go up, we're seeing gas prices o up and the economy is uncertain."

If the economy doesn't improve, volunteers say there'll be more families relying on food banks. For now, Deborah Wrightson is just thankful for a helping hand...

"I'm taking it one day at a time. Cause you have to. If I don't I'll go crazy," says Wrightson.

Deborah is just one of may families struggling to survive through these tough times. But the key to making it out alive, program directors say, is to put your pride aside and ask for help.

Flipping Over the Market!

2008-04-20T16:56:00.004-04:00

Two local men are using Syracuse's healthy real estate market to flip a profit!
By Kristen LaVerghetta, NCC News

SYRACUSE, NY - When Zachary Belil and Shawn Clarke look to buy a house, they don’t go for the nicest one on the block, they search for the fixer upper with the most potential. Zac and Shawn are flippers, they buy, fix-up, and re-sell homes for a profit.

The partners used to live in New York City and then Minneapolis, where they began flipping. They decided to leave big city life, and move back to Shawn’s hometown, Syracuse, where they could try their hand at flipping high-end homes at a bargain price.

Zac says that it’s Syracuse’s affordable real estate market that enables them to flip upscale homes. “We can do it here, but if we had to do the same thing in New York it would be impossible… This house in a suburb of long island would cost me a million and a half dollars, it’s no where near that here.”

Compared to the majority of the country, the cost of real estate in Syracuse is very low. Last year the median cost for a house in Syracuse was 131,000 dollar. In New York City that number jumps to just under 440,000 dollars.

Real estate experts say the affordable market here is partially due to Syracuse avoiding the housing boom. David Manzano, President of the Board of Realtors, said that Syracuse did not see the spike in building that most of the country saw. Because of this, the market has remained stable.

Affordability aside, Zac and Shawn say that for their customers, buying a flipped home in Syracuse is a life style choice. Shawn says, “A lot of people, when they buy now in today’s market and they are paying a lot for the house, they want to move into their house right away. They don’t want to take the time to do all of this work… We’re giving them the opportunity to buy an old house, brand new!

Zac says that some of their clients move here to escape the rush of big city life. “It’s a little tiring to constantly face the race in Manhattan, and when you get here it’s a little easier, it’s a little more livable.”

The Syracuse real estate market allows Zac and Shawn to make a good living flipping homes. However, bringing out the beauty in the homes they refinish, is what really gives the pair a sense of accomplishment.

Lake Ontario Water Plan Lacks Transparency

2008-04-20T15:19:00.026-04:00

By Daniel Yang

Boating season along the Great Lakes is about to begin, but there’s something troubling the waters in the North Country. On the shores of Lake Ontario, there’s a growing controversy this year on just high the water should be.

Sandy Creek, NY (NCC) - Sailboater John Mayer says high water levels during the summer are good for racing, but the waves are devastating the peninsula between Port Bay and the lake.

"The Canadians and the Americans let the water levels go up," said Mayer, "and it completely washed this out. You can see that trees are down... 500 feet in front of here, this used to be an apple orchard."

But bringing the level down can be bad for charter boats.

"Means you can't get access to the docks," said Randy McCoy, recreation director at Port Bay Marina. "You'll either ingest mud or strike the bottom and the propellers."

How high the waters run affects everything from fishing and shipping to hydroelectric power to.... well, just going to the beach. They all rely on international regulations that control how much water is allowed to flow from Lake Ontario through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam on the St. Lawrence River, now considered one of the most endangered rivers in America, because of a water plan that turns 50 years old this year.

More water flows through the dam during the spring and summer -- to help commercial shipping and power production-- and less in the fall and winter, when the St. Lawrence River freezes. This reduces flooding and helps protect Central New York vacation homes along the shore.

But after years of disrupting a more natural cycle of highs and lows, erosion is a huge problem--destroying half the wetlands around the lake. Only a few species of plants and animals can survive the constant change, like the invasive cattail, now considered a weed.

"There used to be a 30 to 35 year cycle between highs and lows in the system," said John Farrell, director of the Thousand Islands Biological Station. "When we draw levels down for storage in the fall time, it really dries up the wetland. And when flooding is reduced, it really affects the fish spawning processes."

The International Joint Commission that regulates Lake Ontario spent $20 million of American and Canadian taxpayer money researching a new plan that was supposed to address environmental concerns but only lowers levels during the storm season.

Governor David Paterson says the plan is too conservative and fails the environment. Senator Chuck Schumer and 23rd District Congressman John McHugh call the IJC's plan irresponsible.

"I am disheartened that the IJC has chosen to disregard the effort made by so many local residents who thought they were participating in an open and transparent government process," said McHugh.

The commission says a more environmentally- minded plan that New York has endorsed risks flooding in Montreal and makes too many sacrifices for commercial shipping.

Residents have until July 1st to comment on the new plan. The IJC will be holding several hearings in June, open to the public.

PUTTING THE BRAKES ON DELIVERIES

2008-04-20T14:09:00.013-04:00

Everyone is feeling the pain at the pump but it's being felt particularly hard by delivery companies and non-profits.

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Syracuse, NY- Nan Poole drives her mini-van three times a week for Meals on Wheels. As a volunteer, Nan brings hot dinners to the elderly and disabled.

But the national average for gas prices spiked to another all time high this week of three dollars, fourty cents a gallon, and Nan is suffering because she has to pay for her own gas.

But it's not just Nan, the whole agency, Meals on Wheels in Syracuse, has been squeezed by high gas prices. It's an agency whose purpose is to deliver well-balanced meals at the lowest possible cost to a client who is unable to shop or prepare such meals due to illness, disability or advaced age. So the staff also worries about a shrinking pool of volunteers who deliver more than 200,000 dinners door to door every year to 400 clients in Syracuse.

"Individuals who say they really would want to help, but when they think about the possible mileage, it may be inhibiting them from volunteering for us.," Edward Brown, Director of Volunteer Services, said.

"Meals on Wheels is a community driven agency. We depend on the community to support it, As it impacts them it impacts us," Mason Kaufman, Executive Director, said.

TAXIS

Gas approaching four dollars a gallon is also a hugh concern for taxi drivers, who spend on average 50 dollars a day on gas. That money coming out of their own paycheck because taxi rates are set by the city.

"I have to adjust my way of planning. The drivers in the east side, I wouldn't send them all the way to the south side to pick someone up," Sonny Singh, Owner of Blue Star Transportation, said.

Instead of multiple trips to the gas station to fill up the tank, Blue Star Transportation makes the customers wait.

"We're making the customer wait. The customer has to suffer for it because they won't get their cabs on time because the driver doesn't want to pay extra money for the gas," Singh said.

FLORISTS

And it's not just taxis, but consider businesses that depend on deliveries. Florist Dave Hoover, of Hoover Flowers, never turns customers away and will not carpool deliveries with other florists. Instead he's been raising prices to cover transportation costs. If you want flowers delivered by him, you have to pay a fee of 13 to 20 dollars just for delivery alone.

"It's just a fact of business either you pass your higher prices along or you lose business," Dave Hoover, Owner Hoover Flowers, said.

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE

No one knows what the future holds but economists say what goes up must come down. Even if it doesn't go down, people like Nan Poole, will continue delivering hot meals to the doorsteps of the needy.

"I'm going to continue doing it until there may be a point where I'm going to have to reduce my days but not totally give up the service," Nan Poole, Meals on Wheels Volunteer, said.

Where the Green Grass Grows

2008-04-19T19:16:00.010-04:00

Brad Seal NCC News

April 19, 2008

Syracuse, New York--Spring time means it's baseball season in Syracuse, but you'd never know it by looking in the stands. Syracuse ranked near the bottom of the division in attendance last year. This year the Syracuse Chiefs organization hopes more fans will turn out to see a renovated baseball field.

What's Changed

The Chiefs spent 1.5 million dollars in Onondaga tax money to tear up the old artificial turf field and in it's place went a combination of 4 types of Kentucky bluegrass. The Chiefs also moved the bullpen from beyond the outfield wall to first and third baselines.

The Reaction

The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans used many different adjectives to describe the old turf and none of them were pleasant. Chiefs season ticket holder Jacob Fikes said that the old turf made Alliance Bank Stadium look like a "graveyard".

Does it Matter?

That is the real question: Will the new field bring in fans for the Chiefs? Chiefs general manager John Simone says that only two things will bring fans to Alliance Bank Stadium: good weather and a winning team. Syracuse residents know about the weather; it can snow in May here which makes it very hard to play baseball during the early part of the season. There is nothing the Chiefs can do about that.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs can also do very little to control the winning team part of the equation. Major League parent organization the Toronto Blue Jays have a very mediocre farm system and the players that do turn out to be good players are sent up to the Blue Jays fairly quickly. That doesn't leave many up-and-coming stars for Syracuse fans to watch.

It also doesn't help that the Blue Jays play in Toronto. Syracuse has New York and Boston fans, but no too many Toronto fans. Several fans we talked to discussed the rumor about the New York Mets sending its Triple A team to Syracuse next year. The Syracuse contract with the Blue Jays is up at the end of the year so that remains a possibility, but as of now it is still just a rumor.

The Chiefs haven't had a winning season in seven years and there is very little happening to make fans believe that will change anytime soon. Looks like the Chiefs are zero for two on Simone's recipe for bringing fans to Alliance Bank Stadium.

Play On The Grass

2008-04-16T12:02:00.003-04:00

When the novelty of grass wears off, will baseball fans still fill the seats?

April 14th, 2008 - Alliance Bank Stadium - Syracuse, NY

Matthew Schultz - NCC News

There's Grass

A new sound can now be heard at Alliance Bank Stadium; that of a lawnmower! Many baseball fans in Syracuse, frustrated for years by the deteriorating astroturf field at Alliance Bank Stadium, will no doubt make a point of seeing an early season game on the new grass field. According to outfielder Russ Adams, "It's exciting, hopefully it's exciting for the fans, too, to come out and see a game. You know, it's more appealing to the eye to see the game of baseball played on natural grass". But once you've seen the grass, what is the reasoning for a return visit? The Chiefs marketing strategy for the year relies almost solely on the grass - including grass-themed slogans and memorabilia.

What gets fans to the games?

According to Chiefs General Manager John Simone, good weather and a winning team are really the only ways to get more fans out to the stadium. That's a problem here in Syracuse, where the Chiefs have had only 8 winning seasons in the last 31 years and where mother nature does not often favor outdoor activities. With the smallest population of any city with a triple-A baseball team, Syracuse needs to do even more to convince fans to come out to the ballpark, and their marketing and promotion efforts are often not enough. "We need new blood at the top," says Chirs Fikes. "Some new ideas, fresh ideas. When I came here with my dad, back in the 60's, when I was a young teenager, same guys basically." If they need ideas for promotions, their fans certainly have plenty. We heard ideas ranging from guest announcers to better food. Just one new concept might be able to make a huge difference.

Winning Sells Seats...Will grass help the Chiefs Win?

"Just playing on a smoother surface, a nicer surface, and something that's a lot easier on your knees and your back, and everything else, is only going to help us," said Russ Adams. Pitcher Jordan DeJong echoed the sentiments of many others in the organization that Alliance Bank Stadium is now going to be a very pitcher-friendly ballpark, as the left field wall has been moved back to make home runs to that part of the stadium a little harder to come by. Russ Adams also reminded us that, despite being a pitcher's park in terms of home runs, the grass may help to slow the ball down when it is hit to the outfield, which may allow the Chiefs to score more runs in situations where they may not have had time to get all the way to home plate in the past. In any case, the grass will cut down on injuries, and reduce the home field DISadvantage that the Chiefs used to face, as they had to play 70+ games each year on what amounted to carpeted concrete.

Energy Drinks Pose Dangers?

2008-03-29T21:21:00.014-04:00

Why the extra boost isn't the only thing worrying doctors...

By Joyce Ogirri, NCC News

On most any college campus, you’re as likely to see college students with a Red Bull in their hand as a Coke. This growing energy drink industry is giving millions of people that extra something to get throught the day.

Matija Popovic goes to work when most people are going to bed. He’s a night delivery driver for a Syracuse restaurant. He says he depends on drinks like red bull for a rush of energy. “It’s not like it’s an addiction, oh I need one. It’s just, makes you, makes the job you do easier, whatever you do, focus, or physical,” said Popovic.

Matija is one of the millions of consumers who will spend three quarters of a billion dollars annually on caffeinated drinks.

Red bull is the #1 selling energy drink in America. Even though Red Bull makes you feel alert, Syracuse nutritionist Michelle Gallant, say its not good for you. “Its empty, extra calories. We don’t need that and it certainly can be one of those factors that contributes to obesity,” said Gallant.

And the high amount of caffeine doctors say can affect your heart. Cardiologist Michael Gabris, from the New York Heart Center says there is no long-term damage. “It won’t lead to heart attacks or anything like that. But in high doses of caffeine can cause a racing heart beat can lead to dizziness, lightheadness. And in high enough dose it can cause you to faint,” said Gabris.

That doesn’t stop college students from mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Red Bull targets young males by using extreme sports advertising that show kids living on the edge.

Syracuse University student, Emre Sahinalp takes part in this new trend. “What’s my favorite drink after water? I’m gonna have to say red bull and vodka. It tastes good,” said Sahinalp.Experts say mixing a stimulant with a depressant can be dangerous. Syracuse University psychologist, Dr. Kate Carey says drinking too much alcohol will raise a person’s blood alcohol concentration. “When they use it at the same time, they’re feeling alert, they keep drinking. And when the energy drink wears off, the alcohol hits them hard,” said Carey.

Another S.U. student, Alex Bercheck has experienced this first hand. “You know to do all these stupid crazy things you usually don’t have the energy to do it because you’ll like oh I’m drunk. But rebull and vodka you get the energy and stupid ideas,” said Bercheck.

And its that kind of feeling that helps keep this $5 billion dollar a year industry alive.

Independent Music Artists keep up hope

2008-03-27T21:35:00.017-04:00

Everyday workers try hard to become music stars after work

By: Harold Kuntz, III

Syracuse, NY – For many Central New Yorkers, the daily grind of a 9 to 5 job is enough for one day’s work. But for about 150 people around the area, their second job is music. They’re independent music artists, paying the bills through their day job but striving to achieve fame without the help or backing of a major record label.

The independent music artists continue to put their own money to their equipment, record making and sometimes take free appearances to perform at shows at local music venues. Jameel Hammonds, who performs under the name Black Lotus, and his group Piciden Entertainment, takes any show he can get and hopes the shows lead to expanding his music career outside Syracuse.

“It’s like a sacrifice you have to make, getting all the equipment and buying all the records even if sometimes it might seem kind of grim. One day it’s definitely going to pay off, its seeing your passion come to fruition by determination,” said Hammonds.

Bernard Wilfork, another independent music artist who performs under the name Porkcrhop Willie, moved from Florida and enjoys the atmosphere of the Syracuse venues, however small they may be.

“It’s a good time, it’s more about having fun now. If I can please one person with what I’m doing, one note, that’s made my night, that’s success to me,” said Wilfork.

But local album sales and interest has been down recently. The Soundgarden store in Armory Square makes an offer to local music artists to put the albums on the shelves but people aren’t buying.

“I think people take it for granted that there are so many local artists around here. People just take for granted and they don’t go to a show of they don’t buy the album they get it from a friend there’s a huge decline,” said Soundgarden Manager Michael Watson.

Even though sales are down, it does not deter the music artists path toward chasing their dreams. Wilfork, who has performed under bands Earth, Wind, and Fire and Kool and the Gang, says for any independent music artist, you must have breaks to break in the spotlight.

“It’s all about practice. it’s all about who you know. It’s all about getting everything together spiritually if your even thinking about forming a band,” said Wilfork.

Jameel Hammonds and Piciden Entertainment recently performed in the Upper State Independent Tour, a three-city tour. Bernard Wilfork performs with various groups in local music venues around Syracuse.

Nationwide Primary Care Physician Shortage Hits CNY Hard

2008-03-26T13:28:00.012-04:00

By Alex Reed

Syracuse, N.Y. - Matthew Lorber is a doctor at University Hospital but says he plans to move back to New York City once his fellowship ends.

"That's where I'm from," he says. "That's where most of my friends are. That's where most of my family is. A lot more job opportunities down there as well. Just the benefits that the city has to offer. Also, the weather is nicer."

But it's not just that upstate New York has fewer primary care doctors, which include pediatricians and family physicians. There are fewer doctors coming out of medical schools choosing to practice primary care. A decade ago, more than half of doctors in the U.S. chose primary care after their residency. Three years ago, that number had dipped to 1 in 5. So why the big plunge?

"With Medicare reimbursement remaining at a low level and proposed cuts each and every year and with health insurers reducing reimbursement, young people coming out of medical school and out of residency programs, faced with these 100 to 200 thousand dollars in loans for their training, there's not much of a financial incentive for them to go into primary care," says Gerald Hoffman, Executive VP of the Onondaga County Medical Society.

Here in upstate, that problem is made worse. Doctors in general tend to try to find work in big cities, that can offer larger salaries to pay off huge medical school debt. In Syracuse, experts say not having a consolidated children's hospital is a major barrier to attracting doctors to come. This has left upstate New York with an older primary care workforce and not enough incoming doctors to fill the void.

"Because of a lack of having a consolidated childrens hospital and really the desire of many pediatric residents who eventually become pediatric physicians to actually train and work at childrens hospitals, that's why you see such a shortage of physicians, pediatric trained physicians here in Syracuse," says Bj Adigun, Director of Community Development for Golisano Children's Hospital.

Hope on the Horizon

When the Golisano Children's hospital opens here next year, not only will it attract a team of new primary care physicians, it will allow families in the region closer access to pediatric care.

"It's the kind of project that I think can bring everyone in the community together and they can see the importance of having world class healthcare for our kids," Adigun says.

Mike Mincolla is a 4th-year med student at SUNY Upstate Medical University. "One of the main reasons why my wife and I do want to stay in Syracuse is, being from Syracuse, we were born and raised actually in North Syracuse so being a local has a lot to do with it," he says.

History has shown, experts say, that if you build one hospital, soon enough all of the beds will fill up, creating a need to build another one. And that's something children and their parents can smile about.

Stevia: The dietary supplement Coca Cola wants

2008-03-24T18:39:00.009-04:00

Stevia is the newest trend in non-caloric sweeteners, but unlike the more popular Splenda and Sweet’n Low…Stevia isn’t a sugar substitute.

“I don’t know that there are dangerous compounds in there, but there are a lot of compounds that haven’t been identified yet," Chemistry Professor James Kallermerten.

And that’s why Stevia is labeled under a dietary supplement…because the FDA hasn’t yet approved it.

“Consumers really like Stevia right now because it’s all natural, there’s no side effects, it’s zero glycemic index and it has good taste,” says Tracy Bowers, team leader of Wegmans' natural foods section.

Stevia is derived from a plant native to Paraguay and has been used as a sweetener for centuries, but has yet to be mass marketed to the American public.

Nearly two years ago, the sugar free foods market accounted for almost 6 billion dollars. And now Coca Cola is trying to tap into the market by getting Stevia FDA approved.

“There are protocols that you have to go through to make sure that things like this are safe. You need to first of all identify the compounds so that you can test these compounds for toxicity in the short term and the long term," Professor Kallermerten.

However, dietician Jodi Kearns says sugar substitutes are beneficial for some people.

“They’re sweeteners that do not have any calories, any carbohydrates and they do have a role in the meal planning for the common person with diabetes and also for the person trying to lose weight.”

But how healthy are artificial sugars? According to the FDA, a person weighing 150 pounds can safely have about 18 sodas filled with aspartame in one day, or up to 12 packets of Sweet’n’Low, or 6 cans of you favorite Splenda beverage.

“Your liver’s actually amazing at taking compounds that are totally strange compounds to the body and breaking them down and turning them into something your body can excrete, says Professor Kallermerten.”

Splenda is marketed as the sugar substitute made from real sugar, but after visiting a laboratory, Splenda grows three chlorine molecules. Professor Kallamerten says products with chlorine molecules are questionable.

“Typically chlorinated compounds are not particularly healthy. They tend to be what we call alkylating agents and alkylating agents are often associated with cancer,” Kallamerten.

And the professor says aspartame, which is found in Equal and NutraSweet, really doesn’t look like a sugar-like molecule, but it resembles sugar just enough to trick the brain.

So next time you shop for sugar keep in mind what is FDA approved and what you may be ingesting. Chemists go by the rule; if you don’t know what it is, then don’t put it in your mouth. For NCC News. I’m Ashley Prchal.

Baby Boomers are Flooding the Gyms

2008-03-24T18:30:00.007-04:00

But is the exercise they're doing helping or harming? Experts say running may not be the best option.

By Ted Johnsen

SYRACUSE, NY: With spring here, odds are you’ll probably start seeing all types of people running alongside the road. One age group you’ll most definitely see more of is the baby boomer generation: ages 45-65.

Glenn Heyer is not your typical middle-aged American. At 65 most retired folk would probably sit back and relax. Not Glenn. He has run every day for nearly 14 years. No days off. "Well I started for about a week and I said gee I ran every day this week- and then 2 weeks then it turned into a month and I said gee I can get to 100 days that's a good number and I got to 100 and then 200," he said.

But should older people pick up running as their form of exercise? Most health experts say no.

“Probably up to six times your body weight on heel strength,” said Glenn Axelrod, an Orthopedic Surgeon in Liverpool. “So if someone comes in and weighs 150 pounds when they're running that’s 900 pounds across their knees which is significant obviously.”

Axelrod said that he sees many older people trying to push their bodies’ limits. But he said that running at an older age can cause arthritis and other ailments in the lower body joints. “I think most people should start cross-training from day 1. And if they are runners, maybe consider cross-training a couple times a week,” he adds.

At the Fitness Forum gym in Dewitt, a sign hangs in the lobby encouraging middle-aged people to bring their friends to the gym. This shows health clubs recognize the trend that more and more baby boomers are wanting to stay fit.

But personal trainers know they need to keep a special eye on the boomers. “They need to start off slow,” said John Henneberg a personal trainer at the Fitness Forum. “They need to just listen to their bodies and if their bodies start to hurt- they need to slow down just a little bit.”

So as most people get ready for the weather to warm up, experts are urging older people to do low-impact training, instead of running. But for some die-hard runners, that’s asking a lot.

Slaves to the Scale

2008-03-24T08:30:00.006-04:00

Even with regulations wrestlers are wrestling with weight

By Kristin Gold

-Central New York- For years, what wrestlers call weight cutting has been an accepted but controversal part of the sport. But, ever since the deaths of three collegiate wrestlers from overheating, wrestling organizations across the country have become more involved in regulating techniques wrestlers use to lose weight.

The National Federation of State High School Assoications rules that wrestlers are required to be adequately hydrated and must not go below seven-perent body fat. "I think things have gotten way way better in the last ten years, espcially now since they can't cut weight," said Phoenix High School head coach Gene Mills.

With the new regulations wrestlers are under pressure to keep weight. "I needed a spot, if I didn't lose the weight I wouldn't have wrestled," said Fulton High School wrestler Zachary Race.

Race knows the importance of keeping his weight down and he knows ways around the new regulations to do that.

"To be hydrated I needed to drink water," he said. "So I drank nine pounds of water that morning, so everyone thought I gained 13 pounds overnight...the next morning I was back down."

The NCAA prohibits the use of steam rooms and exercising in overheated conditions to lose water weight but wrestlers still use these techniques.

"I ran for probably three hours straight with sweat pants on, jacket,four hoodies on, everything on, just to lose two pounds for three hours," said Mexico High School wrestler Jacob Burke.

Doctors don't recommend rapid dehydration because it can seriously damage body functions.

"If you're an active person and you're physically sweating out the body in water and not replacing it that also has a lot of detrimental effects including kidney failure in addition to low blood pressure and again it comes back to malfunctioning of the heart and shutting down all the major body functions," said Pediatrician Denise Woodall-Ruff.

The regulations deaths of those three wrestlers aren't enough to stop wrestlers today from doing whatever they can to drop the weight. They will always be slaves to the scale.

Vitamin Enhanced Waters: Are They Worth It?

2008-03-23T21:54:00.005-04:00

By Marissa Torres

Syracuse, NY- Last year consumers spent over a quarter million dollars on vitamin enhanced waters. As the demand for these waters increases, more and more companies are introducing new and improved flavors that promise to revive, replenish and renew. But most health experts agree, vitamin enhanced waters aren’t worth all their hype.
It all adds up
“Its popular and everyone thinks it is going to make them a better athlete, what it really does is add calories to your diet” says Lindsey Reider, Physical Education and Recreation Department Chair at Onondaga Community College.
Reider says he has noticed more and more students opting for the vitamin enhanced waters, and he questions its nutritional benefits.
“I think it is a marketing ploy, and I think it takes advantage of peoples lack of knowledge of what their proper diet should be.”
For most people it’s the taste that lures them in. But it is also believing that drinking the water provides you with all of the necessary vitamins for a healthy diet.
What people do not realize is that along with the vitamins and electrolytes, comes lots of sugar.
In one bottle of Life Water, there are 140 calories. Which is the equivalent of eating one twinky.
“Unless your drinking one and your going out and working out, it’s just going to sit in your stomach and turn to fat” says Damian Rinaldi, a local boxing coach.
Sure They Taste Good, But do they work?
Being healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is hard to do when we are constantly busy and usually have time for just a quick bite. But having vitamin-enhanced water is not the quick fix you may think it is.
The waters are infused with B12, B6, vitamin C, Niacin, and other water-soluble vitamins, which are extremely unstable. The vitamins easily evaporate from the water, and this process is sped up when the waters are not refrigerated.
So, by the time you drink your water, much of the vitamins have left.
Are they right for anybody?
The waters are also enhanced with Electrolytes, which are beneficial for people with an athletic or active lifestyle.
“Some of these beverages that have electrolytes, in them, not necessarily the vitamins, but the electrolytes, may help with the absorption of that water to get back into the bloodstream” says Reider

The cheaper alternative for anyone looking to stay hydrated and be healthy is one multi-vitamin and a glass of tap water. It saves on the pounds and on the wallet.

Nintendo Wii Video Games Find Use in Physical Therapy

2008-03-23T21:35:00.006-04:00

-By Jordan Meddy

Syracuse, N.Y. - Syracuse resident Cecilia Adams loves to play bowling and tennis on the Nintendo Wii video game system.

“I think it’s great. It’s a beautiful picture, it’s innovative. Instead of just sitting in a chair and pushing buttons you’re actually up and moving. I think it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

But Adams is not your typical player. She uses the Wii as part of a physical therapy program. Adams shattered her ankle five months ago and has only recently been able to begin putting pressure on it again. Hospitals and therapists around the country are adopting the Wii to help patients rehabilitate from a variety of injuries, from broken bones to brain traumas.

“To an individual who has a neglect to one side of the body, possibly they’ve had a stroke, we can position them in a way so they have to concentrate on working on that affected side,” said Donna Sims, therapeutic specialist at University Hospital.

The key lies in the Wii’s unique motion-sensitive controller, which requires players to get up off the couch and perform the movements they wish to simulate in the game. The most helpful and commonly used game in physical therapy is “Wii Sports,” which includes tennis, bowling, golf, baseball, and boxing. These games may still not seem like much of a workout, but therapists say even the required shifts in weight can teach bones and joints to handle the pressure.

“You start with the easier games first, the bowling and the tennis. Just a little bit of light weight shifting. And eventually we can progress to baseball or boxing, where you really have to step and transfer the weight onto the other foot,” said Ray Manzano, a physical therapist who uses the Wii with some of his patients at the Fahey Rehabilitation Center in Syracuse.

Not only is the Wii effective, it is fun, an element which should not be underrated according patients such as Adams. Therapists and rehabbers agree the video games provide an emotional benefit as important as the physical one, improving a rehab experience that can be mundane and sometimes frustrating.

“Let’s face it physical therapy is not that exciting, to just do 30 leg lifts or the different things that have to be done,” said Adams. “It’s necessary but it’s not a great amount of fun. At least that gives you something to look forward to and something else to do.

A technology designed mainly for kids has found a whole new purpose, helping people heal and sparing them – a little – from the process.

Pour a Little Sugar On It

2008-03-23T20:58:00.007-04:00

Some Health Conscious Consumers are Curbing Their Sweet Cravings with a Natural No-Calorie Sweetener.

By Kristen LaVerghetta

Syracuse, NY - For years calorie counting consumers have been using artificial sweeteners, like Equal, Sweet'N Low, and Splenda, as a guilt free alternative to Sugar.

James Kallmerten, a Syracuse University chemistry professor, says that the artificial compounds used in these sweeteners have health hazards that are far worse than a few extra calories.

“The problem that you run into is if you encounter a compound that the liver can’t handle. Sometimes you can actually impair liver function and you can actually cause liver disease.”

Some health conscious consumers are now turning to Stevia. It's a natural no-calorie sweetener that is made from a plant. Stevia comes in several different forms, and is two to three hundred times sweeter than sugar.

Tracey Bowers, team leader for Nature's Marketplace at Wegmans in Dewitt, says, "Consumers really like Stevia because it’s all-natural, there are no side effects, it’s zero glycemic index, and it has a good taste"

Stevia is considered a dietary supplement, because the FDA hasn’t approved it. Currently, Coca cola is trying to get Stevia approved so they can use it in their diet sodas.

This no-calorie sugar alternative comes at no small cost. Consumers will pay between $8.00 and $20.00 for Stevia. Some consumers, like Faye Gambocarto, are turned off by the price. "It was kinda a little pricey, that’s why I didn’t get it."

Jodi Kearns, a dietitian, still warns against becoming too reliant on alternative sweeteners, even natural ones. Kearns says that when using any sugar replacement, people should be aware of what the acceptable daily intake, or ADI, of that product is. The ADI is the amount the FDA has determined a person can safely consumer.

Kearns says that life style changes may be more beneficial than simply eliminating natural sugar from your diet. “The bottom line is people need to eat better, drink less soda, less sweetened beverages, drink more water and just try to be healthier without using a lot of these things”

Kearns and Kallmerten agree that none of these products have been around long enough for anyone to really know what the long term side effects are. Kallmerten adds, “I think I’d just take sugar and go out and run three miles everyday.”

Although products like Stevia give consumers a natural – no calorie alternative to sugar, experts say that in moderation, a little bit of the real thing may not be that bad.

Vitamin Enhanced Waters Claim Health Benefits

2008-03-23T20:13:00.009-04:00

But are they Worth It?
By Richard Zussman, NCC News

Syracuse, NY - We know that drinking water is supposed to keep us healthy. But companies like Vitamin Water and Gatorade are encouraging people to drink vitamin infused waters to keep them hydrated and healthy. These waters can cost consumers up to three dollars a bottle and have language on the bottles that give off the imprssion of being healthy. But some nutritionist, like Syracuse University Professor Sarah Short, say the success of bottled water sales are all about marketing. "I think they are sort of a scam. I think that they are wanting you to buy them. And something new, something different."

NEW PRODUCTS

In 2006, 140 new products were added to the $10.8 billion wholesale bottle-water market. Last year more than a quater of a million dollars was spent on vitamin enhanced waters. But who is drinking these waters? These drinks should be for those finishing a workout, says Syracuse area trainer Brian Germano "I think they are great for what they are made for. If you have it for recovery. If you have it during a workout when you need to replenish glycogen store then it's great."

But the drinks shouldn't be consumed for those just sitting on the couch Germano says. "If you are going to sit on the couch and play Playstation and drink one or two vitamin waters they're not good for you." The reason for this is the sugar content.

THE CALORIE CRUNCH
One bottle of vitamin water has 120 calories and about 35 grams of sugar. The sugar content and a lack of exercisewhen drinking enhanced waters, says dieticien Lindsey Reider, can contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. "We have a problem with overweight and obesity in the United States. And that's because we are getting too many calories in our diet. The calories that are in mose of these beverages are the wrong kind of calories."

STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP
Syracuse residents also can go to the tap for hydration. The water that comes from Skaneateles Lake if some of the cleanest in the world. And the water that goes to the county is from Otisco Lake and Lake Ontario and makes for some of America's cleanest tap water. This water is as good to drink as anything in the bottles OCWA Director Tony Geiss says. "If you've got good water at your tap it's just as good to drink that water as buying a bottle of water."

The water at the tap is also a good deal. A Vitamin Water may cost a $1.25 but that is still 5,000 times more expensive than a glass of water from your tap.

Caffeine Craze

2008-03-23T20:05:00.011-04:00

When does a need for energy go too far?
By Arrianee LeBeau, NCC News

Syracuse, NY- Caffeine is the most common addiction in the Nation according to addiction specialist Dr. Dessa Bergen-Cico of Syracuse University. It’s commonly consumed in coffee which is the most popular drink besides water. On average Americans drink three cups of coffee and day and according to the National Coffee Association more than six out of ten people are hooked on it.

Confessions from an Addict

“My mouth waters when I smell coffee,” Blake Stillwell said. Stillwell is a Syracuse University student who admitted to drinking a pot of coffee one night to get through an overnight shift. Stillwell said he knows the large amount of caffeine he consumes is not healthy but his caffeine vice is an addiction he isn't willing to kick.

Energy Drink Transition

But now more people are kicking the cup of joe to the curb and turning to energy drinks for an extra boost. Energy drinks with names like Monster, Rockstar and Red Bull are filling up store shelves and being marketed to young people. Red Bull uses hip athletes, students and free giveaways to build its popularity. This year the company estimates selling one-billion cans in the US. And students at Nottingham High School said Red Bull’s marketing strategy works.
“While playing sports I might drink it but I need two of them because I get tired after a certain amount of time. It’s just to keep me up and awake and hype,” said Dheris Wynn.

Energy Drink Cocktail Debut & Dangers

Now these energy drinks are moving from store shelves to pubs and being mixed with alcohol to create energy cocktails. “It makes you feel like an awake drunk. And so it masks some of the sense of intoxication that you might otherwise have,” said Bergen-Cico. She said because energy drinks have a lot of stimulants in them like ginseng, taurine and caffeine, when mixed with a depressant like alcohol it sends your body mixed signals.

She also said the dangers of drinking energy cocktails vary from person to person but heavy consumption inevitably ends with a crash. “Their blood alcohol level increases but they mentally believe that they’re somewhat alert and so they end up with alcohol poisoning and high concentrations of alcohol,” said Bergen-Cico.

Sports Training: Safe Weight Gain for Young Athletes

2008-03-23T19:26:00.019-04:00

Good training programs and diets can help kids bulk up naturally

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Liverpool, NY- Getting extra protein into his diet is important to Bryan Clegg. He plays Lacrosse for Liverpool High School and with practice, weight training and games, Bryan drinks protein shakes five times a day to gain muscle and bulk up.

“I gained a lot of lean muscles from taking the proteins. It’s a lot simpler to whip up a protein shake than to make a steak," Bryan Clegg, Liverpool Varsity Lacrosse.

THE GAME & THE JUICE

Liverpool high school is one of the top division schools for lacrosse in New York state.

“At our level, every game is intense every game is hard fought and physical. Beat big schools, there’s big guys and it take a pounding on you if your not in shape you wear down quickly,” Jay Graham, Liverpool Lacrosse Coach, said.

The frequent over-emphasis on winning in sports may drive some young athletes to abuse their body's nutritional status, often with dangerous consequences. According to Coach Graham, a majority of his athletes are turning toward protein shakes to get bigger faster. A recent study shows that one in five teens reported using a dietary supplement to gain body mass.

According to the GNC web site, whether it is to gain bulky muscle, tone muscle or to gain weight first and then build muscle, protein supplements like Mass Maker and NO-Xplode can accommodate all of these possibilities.

HEALTH EFFECTS

According to health experts, these stimulants are not good for a growing body and too much protein can be dangerous.

"Too many proteins change your metabolism. You get rid of it via your liver and kidneys. And if you’re overusing them, you can have problems,” Timothy Fairchild, Syracuse University Exercise Science, said.

PROTEIN INDUSTRY A SHAM?

According to Doctor Robert Dracker of Summerwood Pediatrics, the multi-billion dollar protein shake industry is a sham, promising more then it can deliver.

"The body will only use what it needs. You can give it all the protein you want and it doesn’t build muscle directly."

By following more healthier approaches like taking a vitamin, adding foods like fish, pasta and chicken to your diet and the right amount of exercise, student athletes would get the same results.

As for Bryan Clegg, he will continue drinking protein as he plays lacrosse at Syracuse University next year. But Clegg knows he was not recruited because of his bigger muscles, it was because of his hard work and talent on the lacrosse field.

Bigger-Stronger-Faster With Supplements?

2008-03-23T18:59:00.015-04:00

-By Megan Eaton

Liverpool, NY. A growing trend towards bulking up faster and keeping energy levels high has some lead some teenage athletes to choose dietary supplements over healthy meals. In fact, one in five teenagers acknowledged use of some form of a supplement to get their daily protein and vitamins. "I was drinking five protein shakes a day," admitted Brian Clegg, varsity lacrosse player for the Liverpool Warriors.

INTENDED USE
But to have a protein shake in place of a well-balanced meal was not the supplement's original intended use."A dietary supplement is anything that augments a person's food intake-not in place of, but in addition to," according to Kevin Duerr, a dietary supplement consultant at the healthy foods store Naturetyme.

Athletes do need more protein than the average person. "They train two times a day, they have to recover from training sessions and in order to recover from the training sessions they have a greater requirement on vitamins and minerals, "according to Timothy Fairchild, a faculty member of the Syracuse University Exercise Science Department who specializes in energy metabolism. But the body can only use what it needs. Any unused or excess protein is converted to fat, not muscle.

THE DANGER ZONE
Too much protein could overwhelm and shut down a person's kidneys and liver, according to Dr. Robert Dracker. A pediatrician, Dracker said he has encouraged his patients to stick with a healthy diet to fulfill their body's needs. "I think natural products in their diet will probably be the safest approach and the most effective for their body," Dracker added.

Safer, because dietary supplements are not FDA regulated. That means some of their additives may be negative for the body. They can also be illegal for some athletic competitions. For example, one common additive in protein shakes is caffeine, according to Fairchild. College basketball’s NCAA regulations prohibit too much caffeine in the athlete's bodies prior to a game. So drinking a shake before a game to boost energy can keep a player on the bench for a season.

EASIER, BUT FASTER?
There is also no proof that supplements will induce faster body mass, according to Dr. Dracker. He said the only way to truly increase muscle is through a regular workout routine.

Young athletes might see supplements as their ticket to bigger, stronger, and faster results. But for now, the medical evidence has suggested otherwise.

Forget Rehab, Now There's Wiihab

2008-03-23T16:54:00.009-04:00

By Sean Sadri - NCC News
March 23, 2008

Syracuse, NY - Rehabing from injuries can be a long, tedious process. Lifting weights and walking on a treadmill are often necessary aspects of physical therapy, but even the thought of getting healthier isn't always enough to motivate patients.

"Let's face it physical therapy is not that exciting," said Cecilia Adams, a physical therapy patient. "Just to do thirty leg lifts. It has to be done, but it's not fun."

To make physical therapy more enjoyable, therapists are ditching the treadmill and making their patients break a sweat in front of a television screen.

Nintendo's New Role in Rehabilitation
The Nintendo Wii has been in stores for more than a year, and the console is still the hottest commodity in the video game world. The Wii consoles, which are in millions of households worldwide, utilize a wireless controller that mimics a player's actions on screen. But, people are finding different uses for the Wii. Physical therapists are coupling Nintendo's new system with more traditional forms of rehab, creating what the media is calling Wiihabilitation.

Therapeutic recreation specialist Donna Sims uses the Wii almost daily for many of her patients because all patients can find game to suit their health needs and personal interests.

"It's totally individual and that's the beautiful thing about the Wii," Sims said. "There are so many games that we can meet everyone's needs in one way or another."

Sims and the staff at University Rehabilitation primarily use the Wii Sports game, which allows patients to compete in up to five different sports while regaining their balance and strength.

What Patients Think
Nancy Steele of Syracuse is retired and has been at University Hospital for about two weeks, rehabing from a broken leg. Her experience with rehab has been extensive, after suffering for years with connective tissue problems and chronic fatigue.

"The problem with healing from something like is that you can get very depressed," Steele said.

Since using the Nintendo Wii for therapy, she says her depression has subsided, and she is healing faster than expected.

Cecilia Adams, who is using the Wii to regain balance from a fractured ankle, said, "It's something to look forward to for enjoyment, never mind that it helps you."

Therapists are convinced the Wii is the best of both worlds because it is as therapeutic as it is enjoyable, and, as the games become more advanced, the Wii may become as much a part of physical therapy as dumbbells.

Wrestling With Weight

2008-03-23T14:34:00.002-04:00

By Sujata Khandelwal

Central New York-High school wrestlers from all over the region are preparing for the state championships. Part of their preparation involves maintaining weight, sometimes using potentially dangerous and controversial weight loss techniques.

"Weight Cutting"
The term "weight cutting" refers to the practice of rapid weight loss before a competition. This is typically done to qualify for a lower weight class, and for years has been an accepted part of the sport. Wrestlers ranging from 96 to 285 pounds often feel the pressure to make weight in order to compete. "I needed a spot. If I didn't make the weight, I wouldn't have wrestled," said Fulton high school wrestler Zachary Race.

Common Practices
According to the NCAA, unhealthy weight-cutting practices have been banned. Some of these practices include:

using laxatives and diet pills
using diuretics to reduce water weight
sitting or working out in a sauna

Although these guidelines have not been specifically implemented at the high school level, they are taking effect with the supervision of coaches. "I'm pretty strict about kids not doing the things I've seen over the past 30 years. I don't want kids using diuretics. I don't want kids throwing up, and to my knowledge they've never done so, and better not because if they do I'm gonna put some serious hammer time on them," said Phoenix high school head coach Gene Mills. Even with coaches' guidance, however, some wrestlers admit to using some questionable tactics to shed weight. "I ran on the pool deck with a sweat suit on and then after that I went straight to the gym and ran for another hour," said Mexico high school wrestler Collin Toney.

Long Term Effects
Rapid weight loss and severe dehydration can have several harmful effects on body functions, impact development, and even result in death. "There are some long term effects that can happen from those practices that include not developing correctly...there can also be problems with the child maintaining certain nutrients in their bodies, and they may not reach a certain adult height," said pediatrician Denise Woodall-Ruff. She also said that dehydration can lead to kidney failure.

Although wrestling will forever be defined by pounds and ounces, the sport continues to make progress in terms of encouraging and enforcing healthier weight loss practices. It is the heavy dose of discipline, wrestlers say, that can't be weighed or measured.

To R.V. or Not To R.V.?

2008-03-21T21:59:00.010-04:00

Brad Seal-- NCC News
March 21, 2008

Syracuse, NY--Recreational Vehicles constitute a $15 billion a year business in America, but recently national R.V. sales have slowed considerably.

The Bad News
A slowing economy coupled with high fuel costs are forcing customers to stay away from the once thriving industry. Google finance reports that R.V. giant Winnebago had profits drop by 67% over the past quarter. Meanwhile another major R.V. company, National R.V. Holdings Inc,
recently declared for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

The Good News
Yet here in Central New York, not all the news in the R.V. industry is gloom and doom. Local R.V. companies say that people are still buying vehicles; they are just changing what they do on their vacations. Darin Mai of Forrest River R.V. says that people have simply decided to not travel as far during the holidays in order to save money at the gas pump.

Ed Forget of Camping World says that simply avoiding the use of gas stations doesn’t completely solve the problem because people must use fuel to do other things like heat their homes. He agrees, however, that this market is in much better shape than other parts of the country where fast growing cities have been crippled economically by the recent mortgage crises.

Syracuse economic professor Don Dutkowsky says that often places like Central New York and rust belt cities like Cleveland and Buffalo can buck national economic trends because they are what he calls “static cites”---cities that don’t have large fluctuations in population size.

Even with the high fuel costs, R.V. owners can attest that traveling by R.V. is still much less expensive--and much less of a hassle--than booking airfare and hotel rooms. (Plus, no one has to worry about checking bags and what constitutes carry-on luggage when they take an R.V. trip.)

The Future
For R.V. companies, the future looks rosy. Baby-boomers are reaching retirement age which theoretically means that more and more people will look to buy a nice R.V. and see this beautiful country.

For consumers, the future doesn’t quite look as nice—at least not in the near future. Don Dutkowsky says that with the economy still slow and a possible recession in the future, it’s only a matter of time before R.V. owners in Central New York become more affected. That could lead to many people simply deciding to just vacation in their own homes.

Energy Drinks Losing It's Kick

2008-03-21T15:35:00.041-04:00

Taisha Walker, NCC News

Syracuse, NY --Energy drinks are the new it drink among 1 out of 3 teenagers, according to a recent marketing study. Names like Monster, Redbull and Rockstar are as widely known among teenagers as Folgers is with adults. Nottingham High School Senior Jayson Sanders says if it were not for one summer day, he would have tried an energy drink. "We were outside my old neighborhood playing ball and they came in the little Redbull car. And they were like do you want some of our Redbull, says Sanders, and everybody just ran to it and got some. After that, I've been hooked ever since."

Energy Cocktails
Teenagers adding more boost and potential health hazards

Most college students who are older than 21 say they like the taste energy drinks when mixed with alcohol. In fact, Michael Carta, 23, says that is the only way he can tolerate Redbull. His favorite drink...Jagerbombs. "Honestly, probably like 10 or 15 of them" says Carta when asked how many he can drink. When Redbull and a shot of Jagermeister liquor are mixed, it is called a Jagerbomb.

Mental Affect on the Body

"I was dancing and partying until about 5 in the morning says, Syracuse University Student Aaron Burten, and then I went back to my hotel room to go to sleep... and the world started spinning violently."

Two forces at odds

Burten explains his body's reaction as simply a depressant versus stimulant working together to cancel each other out. But addiction experts say alcohol and energy drinks do not cancel each other out, in fact, they are a toxic mix. "It makes you feel like an awake drunk, says Dr. Dessa Bergen-Cico, it masks some of the sense of intoxication that you might normally otherwise have." The alcohol and energy drink mix can deliver other symptoms like alcohol poisoning, rapid heart rate, paranoia, headaches, irritability and fogginess.

Caffeine and other herbal ingredients in energy drinks like taurine, takes over the body's adrenaline, causing a rapid flow of energy followed by a crash, says Dr. Bergen-Cico. And if your not careful, you can exceed the daily 400 milligram caffeine intake if you don't read the labels on products. "Caffeine is like a drug" says Dr. Bergen-Cico. That is why abusing caffeine can be very dangerous, especially if it ends up in the wrong hands.

Stay active!

2008-03-19T10:29:00.003-04:00

But remember, you're not as young as you once were...

Matthew Schultz, reporting for NCC News
3/19/2008

Stay Active
As we continue to discover the importance of exercise in maintaining a longer, more fulfilling life, many in the baby boomer generation are starting to experiment with workout routines. "The goal is to get people to be active," said exercise physiologist Carol Sames, "and if people don't want to do regular physical activity, how about mowing the lawn, gardening; just getting people to be active is huge."But many baby boomers hear "active" and think "running". "A lot of people see running as mount Everest, you know, it's the thing to attain," said Sames,"...but you can be very cardio-vascularly fit without ever having run." Activity is the key.

Benefits of Exercise
"It's not just something that you see physically," said personal trainer John Henneberg, "but emotionally there are benefits. There is also just a good feeling; an overall well being. Health and fitness are so important for you. It is a lifestyle change, and you will reap the benefits, not only for yourself, but all the people around you."

Exercise Carefully
Of course, a regular workout routine is one great way to get your much-needed activity. But many older people forget that they aren't 20 anymore. "Despite the fact that there were many things we did when we were teenagers, or in our early twenties, we just don't have the physical capacity to do that at the same level as we could back then," said Dr. Glenn Axelrod. "Given the aging process is going to occur, the best thing you can do is to stay fit and active as it's occurring, because you can't stop it." Age is only a contributing factor. Anyone starting a workout routine should be careful. It is just ever more dire that we take it easy as we get older, because injuries are much easier to cause, and much harder to recover from. Running is hard on the joints, and is likely a poor choice for someone who is just starting a workout routine, accoding to Carol Sames. The main things to remember are to stretch, take it easy, and do exercises that you enjoy.

Don't forget to have fun!
Advice from Personal Trainer John Henneberg:
"Start out slow, and just listen to [your] bodies. If [your] bodies start to hurt, then you need to back off or slow down just a little bit. I would say, as far as anything else [goes], just [do] what you like to do."

The Disappearing Horse Market

2008-03-02T16:14:00.003-05:00

Rising costs mean trouble for owners

Kristin Gold NCC News

The domino effect has finally reached upstate New York. Extreme drought in the South and rising fuel costs have caused major problems for the estimated 200,000 horse owners in New York. Owners can no longer afford to feed their horses as hay and grain prices have gone through the roof. Some owners are getting desperate.

Cathie Hallett of Penfield has owned horses since she was five years old. She is now having difficulty keeping her horses with the rising prices. “It’s putting a very big financial hardship on being able to maintain, not even improve the quality of the horses lives,” Hallett said. Hallett has given up three of her horses in the past month due to the rising costs. “I had to sit down and put heart aside and sit down to the business end of it,” she said. Hallett sold two horses, each worth $9,000, for a combined total of $500. That $500 was just enough to put the other horse to sleep.

Hay used to cost $1.75 per bale. Today it costs anywhere from $5 to $11. Each horse eats almost an entire 25 pound bale per day, meaning that it now costs $150 a month to feed one horse compared to $52 two years ago. Feed has also gone up. A bag used to cost $14, now it costs $17. “That’s a pretty considerable jump,” said Heather Warren, owner of Edy’s Feed and Farm Supply in Cato. “It may not seem it but when one horse will eat a bag in a week and a half, it adds up fast.”

Owners like Hallett can no longer afford the ever-increasing prices. Lollipop Humane Society in Fairport has already taken in ten horses in the past month and have had even more owners call for advice. “We’ve had 15 to 20 calls in the last month looking to turn in animals, looking for information because they know they’re on a short road with finances,” said Farm Manager Joanna Dychton.

Some finances are so short that owners are letting their horses loose in the wild. Others are simply not feeding them. Hallett admits she could never do that and said she has missed her monthly truck payment in order to feed the horses.

But, for Hallett and many others the market has to get better fast or many more horses will disappear. “What will happen, the heartwrenching decision will be I will need to put them to sleep so that they’re not starving,” she said. “Because if we don’t get better in the next year that’s what’s gonna have to happen and that will be a terribly sad day.”

Food Prices Are On The Rise

2008-02-26T13:00:00.010-05:00

Consumers Aren't The Only Ones Making Changes

Joyce Ogirri
NCC News Reporter

Syracuse, NY

American grocery shoppers are paying more than ever for the basic staples like milk, bread, and cereal. Food prices increased more in the past year than at any time since the early 90s.

Joan Rohe lives on a diary farm and knows first hand what struggles farmer go through.

“The price of milk doesn’t scare me. It should go up to help the farmers out. You have to raise the milk prices,” said Shopper Joan Rohe.

In the last year, the average price of flour is up 40%, eggs are up 33%, and even beer has increased. Local grocers are looking for ways to cut back.

“We are price sensitive to everything that we but that comes in our door. We try to keep our margins consistently tight with the industry,” said Leah’s Big M owner Dan Hodgins.

The reason for increases economists say its higher energy process and transportation costs.

“Consumers have to retrench and kind of reallocate their budgets and see what they can afford,” said Economist Don Dutkowsky.

This is not just happening at the grocery store. Restaurants, taverns, and bakeries all over Syracuse are raising their prices, passing along their own higher cost of business.

At Empire Brewing Company in Armory Square, a pint of beer will cost you an extra 50 cents. Owners blame it on the rising cost of hops and malt, beer’s two main ingredients.

“We’re not going to gauge you, we’re just going to recover what we need to in order to make our business profitable,” said Brew Master Tim Butler.

On the city’s north side, family owned Columbus Bakery is coping with the soaring price of flour, which doubled what it was a year ago.

“It trickles down to the consumer and I have to raise my prices. I’m the bad guy, I don’t want to be,” said Owner Jimmy Retzos.

The restaurants are especially sensitive to higher food prices. Kevin Gentile serves up eclectic Italian cuisine at his little family owned restaurant on Burnet Avenue. He changes his complete menu four times a year.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 22 years. I have noticed more fluctuation in commodity items and prices of vegetables in the last two years than I’ve ever seen in my life, said Owner Kevin Gentile.

With a recession on the horizon, both consumers and business owners have to pay closer attention to their budget.

Analog to Digital Switch: Less Confusing Then You Think

2008-02-22T22:53:00.007-05:00

On February 17, 2009, the FCC is requiring local broadcaster to send out a digital signal rather than an over-the-air analog signal. The changeover from analog to digital is presenting a lot of confusion among the many Central New Yorker and the almost 100 million TV viewers in America.

CONFUSION

Around 14.5 million people still own an antenna-powered television. These are the people that are still confused as to what to do. Many of them are senior citizens according to Time Warner Cable Spokesperson Jeff Unaitis.

“I think at this point there’s still a lot of confusion we’re hearing from a lot of elderly customers that they think they need to buy a new TV set, let along sign up for cable or get a digital tuner.”

Tiffany Lentz, a student at Syracuse University, said “I don't have a TV prepared for it, but I'm prepared, if that makes any sense.”

Confusion shouldn’t be on the agenda because there is a simple solution. The website dtv2009.org is offering coupons for anyone still with analog TV’s for a converter box. The converter box connects to the back of the TV and to your old antenna and you should be good to go. If you have digital cable or satellite, your fine.

Most of the people confused over weather to get a TV or not are the older citizens though. At the Circuit City at Carousel Center, Manager Todd McNeil said, “I think it is the older crowd that has the hardest time understanding why they're the one's that kinda get upset over it. Most of the younger generation just doesn’t worry about it and just buys a new TV."

Some senior citizens at the Ida Benderson Senior Center are both unaware about the switch and are confused about what will happen to their TV. Some said that they will not have the ability to purchase cable. “Can't afford to get any more than what I have as that's what I'm concerned being an older person on a fixed income."

ECONOMIC LOSSES

The FCC requiring the local broadcast stations to switch over to an all digital output is costing some stations in Syracuse lots of money. “Well the initial outlay was in the order of millions of dollars as it was for every other station in the area as when we begin broadcasting that,” said Kevin Wright, chief engineer of WTVH 5 in Syracuse. The FCC may approve legislation requiring broadcast stations to run four 30-minute ads daily in the hope to inform the public about the switch.

Others that stand to not gain much from the digital to analog switch are the recycling companies. The County Resource Recovery Agency hopes that people try to keep their TV’s away for the moment. “People don't have to panic and buy a new set. We can kind of keep that tsunami of old waste down to maybe just a little ripple if we all just work together,” said Tom Rhodes, Executive Director of OCRRA.

Another local business that can’t do anything with the TV’s is Jim Moltion at the Northeast Supply Company. He stands to gain nothing out of the television except for some money from the old cooper wires and the steel from the old bunny ears. “All these tubes contain about 40 percent lead and its an integral part of the glass. It's a crisis, but nobody gives.”

INFO TO KNOW

All TV’s manufactured after March 1st will be required to come with a digital signal. The FCC will send agents to senior centers. Congress has ordered the switch to digital television to free up public airwaves for police and fire departments and the analog airwaves will be auctioned off for commercial services.

Teeth Whitening Dangers

2008-02-18T16:35:00.004-05:00

Many people feel having bright, white teeth is essential to their image and with lots of over-the-counter products available these days to help them achieve their goal, some are using too much of them, exposing themselves to potential dental problems.

"You're smiling," Sonja Vigneux, of Syracuse, said. "They got nice bright white teeth and, just their whole face glows and shines and makes you want to approach them."

Americans love white teeth. And nowadays, they don't have to go to the dentist to get those pearly whites. Americans can just walk to the nearest pharmacy. This year, consumers will spend more than 1.5 billion dollars on over-the-counter teeth whitening products.

But Dentists say consumers need to be aware that, at the end of the day, they're putting chemicals in their mouth that could cause problems when consumers use too many of these products. Katrina Devis is a graduate student at Syracuse University. She says she tried an over-the-counter whitening product once and says it made her teeth hurt.

"It was horrible," Devis said. "I mean, it made my teeth white but at the same time it made my teeth very sensitive so that wasn't something I thought was a good investment after a while."

Every over-the-counter teeth whitening product has a warning label, reminding people of serious side effects. Devis says she followed the instructions, but not everyone does.

The Dangers

Use too much of an over-the-counter whitening product and you could experience gum irritation, teeth sensitivity, and the rare but irreversible, teeth translucency. Dr. Lynwood Bennerson, a Syracuse dentist, says people need to realize the damage they can cause to their teeth. "The most common side-effect would be hyper sensitivity which is your teeth becoming very sensitive to hot or cold," he said. "It can be extreme, it can be very slight depending on the enamel makeup of the persons teeth."

Dr. Bennerson offers professional bleaching in his practice, which is more intense and expensive than an over-the-counter product. He says despite their best efforts, people can only get so much improvement using the products they bought in a store.

"Those products are self limiting," he said. "They're probably not going to let you go any further than a certain point for liability reasons to the company."

Why Are People Doing This?

But why are some people willing to risk the long-term health of their teeth just so they can have some pearly whites for a period of time? In an msnbc.com article last year, people said the perfect teeth of Hollywood stars make them feel theirs are inadequate. Some also reported to feeling addicted to the products because they feel their teeth could always be whiter.

"People who have very white teeth, get so many compliments that they want to have it even whiter," Tibor Palfai, a professor of psychology at Syracuse University, said.

But lots of Hollywood stars have porcelain veneers, which are layers of tooth-colored material, and it's impossible to get regular teeth as white as clean snow. But Dr. Bennerson says, if used correctly, over-the-counter teeth whitening products do work and won't cause any damage.

What you need to know about the switch to digital

2008-02-18T14:35:00.002-05:00

In one year from now the way you’ve always watched television is going to change. But you might not even notice a difference. On February 17, 2009 analog television broadcasting is going to switch over the digital.

Customers are confused about what the switch is going to mean for them. Robert Dunton of Volney said he is not sure what is going to do. “So for me the option is throw all the TV sets away and don’t even use them or maybe go digital. But I’m really angry about digital.” He said he is most frustrated about not knowing who is responsible. “If I knew who was responsible I would like to mount a campaign to vote them all out of office.”

Estimates have been as high as 21 million households with analog television. But recent estimates put the number at 13 million. There are about 55,000 households that get analog signal in Syracuse.

Television repair stores have been receiving lots of phone calls from people who think they will lose their television signal. Television repairman Anthony Palmisano said he is trying to ease people’s concern. “I had a lady the other week, she’s almost crying. My TVs not going to work. I said do you have cable. Yes. We’ll it’s going to work. You made my whole day. That’s what I’m getting at.”

People are mainly confused about who is affected. If you have cable or satellite the switch over will not affect you. But for those who get their television through rabbit ears or antenna will need to make changes. These changes could include purchasing a converter box, upgrading to satellite or cable or a digital television with a built in tuner. The government is providing vouchers for converter boxes. Each household can file for two vouchers, each valued at $40. They cannot be combined in purchasing a converter box and expire after 3 months.

The biggest beneficiaries of the switch should be television retailers and the cable companies. Bill Alsip works at best buy and he said customers with analog television sets are coming in to buy new television. “And many of them are using this as an excuse to buy a new television.”

Time Warner Cable is also expecting new customers because of the switch over.

More information about the switch is available at dtvanswers.com.

The Switch to digital

2008-02-18T01:26:00.003-05:00

Syracuse, NY: If you think you will need to buy a brand new TV in order to watch TV next year, you’re wrong. With TV set to be broadcast solely in digital come next February, most people won’t even notice the change.

The switch to digital means people who receive television programming from their rooftop antennas or rabbit ears will need to buy a converter box or else their picture will disappear. Those with cable or satellite won’t have to do a thing.

Nick Palmisano is a TV repairman in Syracuse, and he said that he gets several calls a week from confused customers.

[“I had a lady come in here yesterday almost in tears. She said ‘My TV won’t work anymore.’ And I said ‘Do you have cable?’ And she said ‘Yes.’ And I said ‘It’ll work.’ And she said, ‘You made my day.’”] Nick Palmisano

One company benefiting from the switch is Time Warner Cable. They say the switch to digital gives them the opportunity to attract new customers. But they say it doesn’t mean they’ll be extending their service to not currently serviced.

[“State law requires us to provide cable where there are 35 homes per square mile, and that’s not going to change.”] Jeff Unaitis- Time Warner Cable

That’s bad news for Robert Denton, who lives outside of the village of Volney. Denton cannot get cable, and refuses to install a satellite dish. He is just one resident who is not happy about the switch to digital.

For Denton the switch to digital could get kind of pricey. He owns five television sets. All would need a converter box.

“For me the options are to throw out my TV’s and don’t even use them, or go digital. So I’m really angry about digital.” [Robert Denton]

And it’s that kind of throwaway mentality that has the government nervous... It is estimated that nationwide 21 million households still receive their TV from an antenna. In Central New York that translates into about 55 thousand homes. That means thousand of old TV’s could soon flood the landfills.

Jim Moltion owns Northeast Supplies and Materials, and he is very concerned about the switch to digital. He said the government needs to mandate what to do with the old TV’s, or else it could do harm to the environment. There are more than 75 old TV sets just sitting in his warehouse. He has no plans of taking them apart.

The Onondaga County Recovery and Recycling Agency (OCRRA) is trying to help. They have arranged a TV drop off day at Alliance Bank Stadium on April 19^th. They hope this will discourage residents from throwing their TV’s in the trash.

For those opting to keep their old TV’s, people wanting to watch TV thru their antenna will need to buy a converter box. The government is offering two $40 coupons (per household) toward the purchase of the converter boxes. If you have more questions about the switch to digital, or want to apply for the coupons, visit the DTV transition website.

A Suffering Horse Economy

2008-02-17T22:48:00.005-05:00

It’s a crisis that’s sweeping across the nation. Among the estimated two million horse owners- many especially here in upstate New York- are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of hay, grain, and straw.
In a sign of hard economic times, unwanted horses are now being abandon and left for death. And families are being forced into bankruptcy.

A labor of love
Cathie Hallett of Fairport New York has owned a stable for nearly ten years. She says this has been the worst year she has ever seen.
“Almost everything has doubled in two years, so it’s putting a very big financial hardship on being able to maintain, not even improve, the value of horses lives.”
Not even four years ago, a bag of grain was being sold for about six dollars. Today, that same size bag costs Cathie about fifteen dollars.
“That doesn’t even feed five horses a day” says Cathie.
Recently Cathie was forced into selling three of her horses due to financial reasons. Now down to twenty-two horses, Cathie is worried she may have to down-size yet again.
“To have to choose which ones need to go is just heart wrenching… you don’t sleep well at night, knowing that this decision has to be made and where your friend has to go.”
While Cathie says the horses are more like family then pets, she must remember that this is a business. If a horse is not bringing any profits to the stable through lessons or competitions, then it must go.

What is causing this problem?
According to the American Horse Council, Americans own more than nine million horses today. Up from about six million horses in the mid 1990’s.
A growing horse population mixed with rising gas, hay, and grain prices are making it difficult for owners to afford the horses.
The over-population is also making it difficult to sell a horse. The market value of horse is constantly decreasing. A horse that may be worth ten-thousand dollars is now being sold for as little as 1 dollar.
Not even being able to sell the horse, owners are having no choice but to desert or release their horses.

Help is hard to find
Horse owners aren’t the only ones suffering. Rescues like the Humane Society are having to turn down more and more people as their stables fill up.
“I’ve had about twenty calls this past month from families who don’t know what to do” says Joanna Dychton of the Lollypop Humane Society in Fairport New York.
Joanna says a responsible rescue has to know when to stop and say no. Taking a sick horse or an old horse is not very adoptable and a big expense.

Hoping for the best
If prices keep rising it will be difficult for people like Cathie Hallett to keep up.
This year is critical.
“We made a promise that when we bring them in to do no harm...so if we go without than that’s what we need to do. There is only so long you can continue to do that…and I give us a year. If next year we’re in the same situation...most of the farms around here will have to file for bankruptcy and will have to shut down.”

Instant Access of Movies

2008-02-17T22:45:00.005-05:00

The Instant Gratification of Home Movie Watching

Going to the movies was once a part of American culture. Families piled in the car to go to the local drive-ins and dates headed off to the theater to watch a flick on the big screen. Syracuse University professor Robert Thompson says the idea that you go out to eat and then go to a movie was a common American activity. “People outside the big cities don’t have much to do. Going to the movies is one of the major things people do," Thompson added.

But many people today enjoy watching a movie within comforts of their home. According to the Washington Post, this makes the gratification of watching movies instantaneous, and while this has become a more popular trend, businesses are taking advantage of this by allowing people to choose movies at home with just a click of a button.

The Kinsey family in Dewitt is one of many families who frequently watch movies On Demand through their cable provider. “We don’t really go to the movies too often, usually when there’s something that’s advertised on TV that catches our eye, we discuss it and see if we want to take a peak at it," Darlene Kinsey said. The On Demand feature provided by Time Warner allows customers to choose from the newest releases as well as movies arranged into categories.

Syracuse University student Rohan Mascarenhas says whenever he has time he prefers to watch movies at home on his laptop. He says because Netflix allows him to receive movies in the mail or download them from, he watches about three movies a week. “Their selection is a huge draw because Netflix has foreign movies, old movies, classics and new stuff, and you get it all from your laptop, you don’t have to go anywhere," Mascarenhas added.

While this instant access to movies at home would appear to threaten theater’s business, the Washington Post says theatergoers are not completely gone. The Washington Post states that while theater numbers dropped in 2006, they now seem to be leveling off. Thompson attributes this to theaters' ability to bounce back from new technology threats. “Weekly attendance at the theaters has never gone back to pre-television numbers, but by raising the price of tickets, Hollywood continued along just fine," Thompson said.

Continuing along is what local theaters like the Manlius Cinema are doing. Manlius Cinema owner Nat Tobin says he personally welcomes customers to each show to keep them coming back. “We try to provide them with an atmosphere in which they feel more at home, where they don’t feel processed in and out of an institution," Tobin said.

Although Tobin says there’s nothing like watching a movie on the big screen, companies like Netflix, CinemaNow and Apple will continue to market products to this generation of home moviewatchers.

Snow Puts Fulton on Freeze

2008-02-17T20:09:00.028-05:00

How are Fulton residents surviving the winter that stole its mobility?

TAISHA WALKER

Reporting for NCC News

Fulton, NY

There are a few things that people living in Fulton can expect year round, snow, snow and more snow. In many places 17 feet of snowfall can shut down a town causing children to stay home from school and parents to call in sick from work. Well that's not the case for Fulton.

In fact, residents of the town say the snow is no big deal at least after you get used to it. "We usually get large amounts in a short period of time which makes it challenging as far as getting the city cleared and the businesses, people to work and school," said Tom Handley, who has lived in Oswego County for over 20 years.

Handley says part plows, snow blowers and snow removal equipment are tools everyone in the town needs to survive the winter. In a town with the population of about 12 thousand people, it would be hard for anyone to move around town without plowed streets and cleaned sidewalks. But that very thing did happen.

Fulton's Department of Public Works had a hard time removing the 37 inches of snow that covered the town in late-January because their plows, snow blowers and garbage trucks were trapped under concrete and dust.

Heavy snow falling on top of the DPW Highway garage caused the building to crumble almost taking the lives of four workers down with the structure said Dan O'Brien, DPW Commissioner.

"The DPW garage collapsing hindered our mobility and our ways to respond to the snow storm said O'Brien.

With the town at a stand still, the work of many city workers started to pile up like the feet long snow banks. But Captain Daniel Abell, of the Fulton Fire Department says people are understanding when it takes his team a bit longer to respond to a fire.

"Most people that are from this area know what it is like to travel and navigate the streets through a snow storm of that nature, and they understand that you can only get there in a reasonable time during these weather conditions," said Abell.

So members within the community and surrounding neighborhoods chipped in and helped in any way they could. Some helped elderly neighbors shovel snow, some used their personal plows to help clear streets and many just held their trash until garbage trucks came the following week.

Some people may think the snow storm that caused the garage collapse was an awful event. In this small city where everyone seems to know each other, many residents were glad that the event brought the community bond even closer.

Eating Organic

2008-02-17T18:35:00.011-05:00

Is organic really better for you and your family?

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Syracuse, NY- Farmers across Central New York are part of a small but fast-growing farm movement called "organic." America has a big appetite for healthier versions of some of their favorite foods. According to the Organic Trade Association, consumers spend nearly $14 billion on organic food each year. But organic food still has a long way to go to rival non-organic food each year for market share and it still has to win over some consumers.

WHAT'S ORGANIC?
Foods must follow these guildelines by the Organic Foods Protection Ac t:

banning the use of pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones

growing produce on land that has been free of chemicals for at least three years

prohibiting genetically modified crops

planting with organic seeds

CNY FARMS

There are currently 528 certified organic farms, dairies or processors in New York state as of August 2007, according to NOFA-NY Certified Organic.

Allison Frost, owner of Frosty Morning Farms in Cortland County, is a small scale non-mechanized farm. Frost grows all her organic produce by hand and uses no herbicides or fertilizers. Growing organically creates more work for Frost and her family. She employs no one on the farm, only her two horses who help plow the soil.

Bill Armitage, owner of Mack Creek Farms in Seneca County, also uses old-fashioned farming techniques in his organic beef. Armitage took on the responsibly of keeping his cattle farm organic, which is an intensive process of feeding his livestock only certified organic food from birth. The 400 acre farm has been in the family for over 200 years.

THE GROCERY STORE

Supermarkets are a popular place to purchase organic foods because consumers already shop there. Organic alternatives are available for almost every conventional food product- fruits, vegetables, cereal, milk, meat and even dog food.

Organic products take more time to produce, process and handle. Therefore, organic foods typically cost more than non-organic foods.

Organic Produce

Organic produce is priced 20 percent to 30 percent higher than conventional produce because of the extra time employees take to follow organic guildelines. All organic fruits and vegetables must be handled seperaetley from non-organic produce to prevent contamination according to produce workers at Wegmans in Syracuse.

Organic Beef

Organic meat has been a tough sell at the grocery store. According to retail butchers, the price of organic beef is $20 to $50 a pound. "The red meat has not taken off like the crops and the dairy has. Milk and your field crops is where organic farmers are making all their money," Bill Armitage said.

SPENDING WORTH THE COST?

Despite generally higher prices, many Central New York shoppers are buying organic. They do not mind paying a smaller mark-up for items such as milk, bananas, salad, chicken and corn flakes, which are nearly doubled in price.

Paula Wells never ate any processed foods because she grew up on a farm. "I think that the reason I'm so healthy and don't look my age is because of what I've eaten."

But for other Wegmans' shoppers, they are used to eating conventional foods because all food must meet the same quality and safety standards. "I'm comfortable with the food supply the way it is. And I think it's safe and healthy the way it is," Dan Campbell said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no evidence that organic food is healthier than conventaional food. " Because something's not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides doesn't change the nutritional composition of the food," Kiersten White, registered dietitian, said.

Blu-ray v. HD-DVD

2008-02-17T17:33:00.002-05:00

There’s a new tech trend breaking into the mainstream, and NCC’s Kristen LaVerghetta found out that in this crystal clear and crisp HD world, high definition movies have consumers a bit confused.

HD-DVD and Blu-ray are both high definition movie formats, and they are competing for market control. To the average consumer these formats may look the same, but there are some major differences. And these differences are giving Blu-ray a leg-up in the industry.

“Blu-ray is better than HD because it can operate at 10-80 P, which is 10 hundred and 80 pixels on the screen verse high definition, which can only do 720 pixels. So it’s a step above and beyond what high definition TV can display at.” Explained Brian Venuti, a technology enthusiast and former Best Buy employee. David Baselli, a home theater specialist, says that the audio capabilities on Blu-ray also exceed those of HD-DVD.

With 75 percent of the movie studios backing Blu-ray, this format also offers consumers more movie choices. However, the advanced performance and variety comes with a higher price tag. Blu-ray players cost about $400, and the average cost of a movie, is between $25 and $40. HD-DVD technology is less expensive. HD-DVD players cost around $150, and the movies cost between $20 and $30.

Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture at Syracuse University, questions whether or not either format will be relevant in the near future. He says that people will soon be able to download content directly from their computer to their television.

However, Thompson believes that DVD’s, in one format or another, will probably always exist. “DVD’s are really interesting fetish objects… I think there is still going to be this desire for these thing that we can put on a shelf”

So what should high def craving consumers do when it comes to movies? Baselli says that purchasing a combination player is a safe investment for consumers. These players are compatible with both Blu-ray discs and HD-DVDs.

Combo players are not cheap! They can cost as much as $800. If you’re not quite ready to make that type of investment, you might want to wait. In a high-def industry on the cutting edge of change, experts say something even BETTER could be just a day...or a download away.

Watching More Movies at Home

2008-02-17T17:12:00.009-05:00

Going to see a movie is an all-American pastime. Consumers spend 50 billion dollars a year on movie tickets, DVDs, and rentals--an industry that keeps growing, with more ways to watch than ever before.

“If there’s something we really want to watch," said Darleen Kinsey, a Fayetteville mother of two, "we’ll buy-on-demand, and watch it at the house as a family.”

The Kinseys can choose from hundreds of the latest movie releases. They’re one of a growing number of families who are taking advantage of technology to download movies at home.

“The home screen’s getting bigger and bigger," said Robert Thompson, a pop culture expert at Syracuse University. "And the multiplex screens are getting smaller and smaller. It’s almost like they’re meeting somewhere in the middle."

Some independent theaters around Syracuse like the recently closed Westcott Theatre took a heavy hit in revenues. But others are getting the hint--they're making the movie watching experience more comfortable, with more of the conveniences of your own home.

“We have a unique relationship with the cafe," said Tina Holava-Hughes, the manager of the Palace Theatre on James Street. "“We allow them to bring their dinner into the movie if they’re running a little late....It’s the convenience of home with your own kitchen.”

The owner of the Manlius Theater, a small, independent art house has his own tricks. “If there’s a large enough group," said owner Nat Tobin, "I introduce the film to let the audience know what’s coming."

But while new movies come out every week, they're not saying in theaters as long as they used to. Studios are banking more on DVDs, with more opportunities to make a buck.

Syracuse resident Ron Metger rents movies for a dollar a day at Redbox kiosks in front of grocery stores. It's a simple as using a vending machine. “I use it when I come into Wegman’s," said Metger, "I usually rent one or two movies a week.”

While the selection is small, that seems to be a trend with brick and mortar stores that are competing against online rentals like Netflix, who ship to your door, Apple's iTunes, and even Blockbuster, which is moving most of its titles online.

“You can go into a Blockbuster," said Thompson, "Some of the collections are pathetic. Ten million 'March of the Penguins.' But you can’t even find Citizen Kane! That industry seems to be shedding its stock.”

But some customers still go to video stores for the impulse rental.

“With Netflix, it’s kind of like you have to want the movies in advance," said Emerald City Video customer Diana Jaramillo-Decarlo. "I guess I’m more spontaneous. Oh, it’s not like I’m planning to watch a movie.” Jaramillo Decarlo said she also comes to Emerald City for its unusual selection of independent films.

But for some, it’s an inconvenient trip. Syracuse University student Rohan Mascarenhas would rather watch movies on his laptop

“When you’re alone in the room late at night, or it's a rainy day outside, you can find basically anything online," said Mascarenhas. “Selection is a huge draw. They have foreign movies, old movies, classics, new stuff, tv stuff, and you get it all on a laptop. You don’t have to go anywhere.”

And for families like the Kinseys, who can access movies with a touch a button, that can mean less traveling, and more quality time at home.

“Just sitting around as a family," said Kinsey's husband James, "just enjoying each other’s company.”

Eating Organic-Is it Worth All the Hype?

2008-02-17T16:46:00.003-05:00

It’s a word we used to only see on local fruit stands, but now you will see it in almost every aisle of grocery stores across America…organic. However, NCC news reporter Sujata Khandelwal says even though it’s a growing trend, eating organic isn’t necessarily better for you.

What is organic?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, organic foods are grown or raised in an environment completely free of any chemicals. “There’s no pesticides or herbicide use on any of the land. None of the feed can come from anything other than certified organic land,” says Bill Armitage of Seneca County. Armitage owns the largest herd of organic USDA-certified beef cattle in Central New York.

“It’s a way of life.”
Not far from the Armitage farm in Seneca County, Alison Frost owns an organic vegetable farm. Frost grows everything from herbs and carrots to brussel sprouts. She says it’s a very labor-intensive process because you are not only growing crops, but also cultivating the soil. “You’re not going to be able to use herbicides. You’re not going to use like quick-fix fertilizers so you’re building up the soil, you’re growing soil as well as the food you’re growing.” It is this extra quality control, which comes at an added price.

Buying into it.
The Organic Trade Association says American consumers spent nearly 17 billion dollars on organic foods in 2006. Organic foods are generally double the price of their conventional counterparts. But, are they really a better buy? “Just because something is not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides isn’t going to change the nutritional composition of the food,” says Kiersten White, a registered dietician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. According to White, there are no documented studies indicating that eating organically grown foods has long-term health benefits. She says it’s all about personal preference.

So, at the end of the day why go organic? For Bill and Alison it’s about placing a quality product on the shelves. For some consumers it’s simply about being healthy, and they say, for that peace of mind, there is no price too high.

New York State Goes Green to Save Energy

2008-02-17T14:35:00.008-05:00

William Scranton and his family live in an old house in Norwich...complete with cracked windows, poor insulation and holes in the floor...a house he admits is falling apart and costing way too much to heat in the wintertime. “Our utility bills here are astronomical. They’re hovering around six hundred dollars a month," says Scranton.

That's why the Scranton’s are among a growing number of Americans willing to invest in a new and greener house this year.

“We feel moving into a new home with more efficient heating, lighting and everything, we could save fifty percent or more,” says Scranton.

Green homes are sprouting up across New York State under an energy program with an ambitious goal of making the state thirty-percent more energy efficient.

Kevin Stack owns Northeast Natural Homes and is a LEED inspector, an organization that provides green building standards. Stack says, “If you take a holistic approach to building, how you design and build a structure, it doesn’t cost more, it actually costs less. For every day it’s alive, every year, every month. It’s going to use less energy and be less of an environmental impact.”

Angelina Maynard is a carpenter for Von Wettberg Builders. So far she has assisted the company in building two green homes. She says, “There’s no one set way to do green. It’s all a fairly new process. It’s still developing.”

A green home takes into account how a house it built, where it is built, the materials used inside the home and many other elements. “You just try to create the least amount of waste that you can in the process of building. And that encompasses a lot of the green building,” says Maynard.

The Scranton family is in the beginning stages of designing their new energy efficient home. The plan is to build a single level home with an open floor plan. The kitchen, living room and main bedroom are on one side of the house. The guest rooms are on the opposite side. So the Scranton family can partially heat their home, saving energy and money.

If you’re looking to go green take baby steps: exchange your current light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, buy energy efficient products by Energy Star, and hire someone to inspect the energy efficiency of your home.

And here’s a tip for everyone in the cold country: if you have icicles streaming down from your roof, that means you have poor insulation and heat is escaping from your home.

The Dangers of Teeth Whitening

2008-02-16T18:42:00.015-05:00

Hollywood has put a premium on physical attractiveness and people are always trying to keep up with the latest celebrity trends. A new phenomenon is the obsession with white teeth and people are trying anything to get the perfect smile. Bright, white smiles, which used to be a luxury, is now attainable and affordable for everyone with the introduction of over-the-counter whitening strips. The daily routine of brushing and flossing is now being partnered with 30-minute whitening routine for some Americans.

Popularity of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening has now become the most requested cosmetic dental service today and its popularity is only growing, according to a survey in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Whitening has become just as popular outside the dental office as well. This year, Americans will spend more than $1.5 billion on over-the-counter teeth whitening products.

Side Effects of Whitening
The cost some people are paying for white teeth is becoming much more than monetary. About half of people who bleached their teeth experienced some sensitivity in a Journal of the American Dental Association survey. The level of sensitivity ranged from slight tingling to extreme sensitivity to air. Side effects, such as tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, can pass with time, but tooth translucency, a more serious side effect, is irreversible.

Bleaching Can Lead to Addiction
Some people are even getting addicted to teeth whitening, and continue to bleach, despite having extremely white teeth. People with this addiction are being referred to as "bleachorexics" in the media.

"You can become addicted to anything," says Tibor Palfai Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Syracuse University. "If something is extremely pleasant for you, it actually changes your brain and you will seek that all the time. People with white teeth get so many compliments that they want to have it even whiter."

Syracuse dentist, Lynnwood J. Bennerson D.D.S., says he has encountered people with this affliction and as a health care professional advised them to discontinue.

"If you are looking at a patient that is essentially over-bleaching and you have told them that they can do harm and they continue. Then, you are looking at not a dental problem, but a psychological problem." says Dr. Bennerson.

What Others Say
Despite the physical and psychological risks, people continue to whiten their teeth with these products. But, not everyone is buying into the recent whitening craze.

"I think it is just a phase like everything else," says Syracuse resident Tracy Raymond.

Teeth whitening may have its doubters, but some think the future of these products is as bright as the smiles it creates.

Going Green Today Can Save You Tomorrow

2008-02-16T16:02:00.007-05:00

Green houses appear to be a growing trend across the nation. The government estimates that 750,000 energy-efficient homes have been built since 1992. Not only environmentally-friendly, they can save homeowners money spent on bills. However, some worry the cost of building a green home might negatively out-weigh the benefits.

COST ACTUALLY SIMILAR
"It's not necessarily true that most materials are more expensive now. They're getting very close to either the same cost or no cost increase at all," said contractor Kevin Stack. He also owns Northeast Natural Homes, a company that specializes in building energy-efficient homes.

OLD HOMES COST, TOO
In fact, homeowners who have standard –or non-green- houses may be paying more money in living expenses. Bill Scranton, a resident in the City of Norwich, said his current home's utility bills run upwards of 600 dollars. To renovate his home he would have to pay around 50,000 dollars-and that would just fix windows and insulation. Cracks in the ceiling and floors, thin walls, and drainage problems would be additional costs.

THE BENEFIT OF GOING GREEN
Instead, he has decided to build a new, energy-efficient home. By doing so, he plans to cut his electric and heating bills down to about 200 dollars a month.

WHO TO TURN TO
In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency established the Energy Star Program. They determine through building, heating, and appliances how much energy can be saved in a home. They hope to cut energy-usage in houses by 30 percent.

TIPS FOR BUILDING GREEN

When building a green home, good insulation and window placement are key factors. By placing most windows on the south side, a home can be heated mainly through solar power. That’s one way building green can incorporate the environment. Thick insulation from floor to ceiling, around window frames and even behind electric sockets can save your home from letting heat out-or cold air in.

AND IF YOU CAN'T BUILD 'EM, JOIN 'EM
If building an energy-efficient home isn't in your budget this year, there are steps you can take to go green.
-Change your light bulbs. Florescent bulbs last longer, and are better for the environment

.
-Keep doors closed to rooms you aren't using, so energy and money aren't wasted trying to heat those areas.
-If you do have to buy a new appliance, check the energy ratings. The more energy they save, the more money you can.

As Smartphone Technology Grows, So Do The Risks

2008-02-15T14:49:00.017-05:00

Brad Seal N-C-C News

Febuary 2008- If you got a new smartphone such as a Blackberry or Iphone over the holidays, be cautious about what you do with it. As smartphones grow more powerful, more information can be stored on them. "There definetely is a trend towards making these devices provide the same kinds of services as notebook computers in a much smaller form." says Dave Molta, Director of Information Technology at Syracuse University.

Smartphones, however, are much easier to misplace than notebook computers. In fact, over half a million smartphones were lost in airports and taxi cabs alone last year. Couple that with the claim by various tech websites that up to 90% of smartphones can be invaded by hackers, and loss of indentity and information becomes a real possiblity.

Even today business owners aren't aware of just what kind of information is stored in employee smartphones. "It's a lack of perceived risk. Corporations don't understand what their smartphone users are doing, what they're getting access to." says Syracuse University Technology Analyst Sean Ginevan.

There is security for smartphones to guard against information loss. One of the most effective security measures is the password lock that is available on nearly every smartphone available. Most smartphone users shun this security for the sake of convenience. "You want to be able to pull your phone out, turn it on, and start making phone calls. You don't want to be hunting around, trying to enter a password before you can use your phone." says Molta.

Users who value convenience over security may find themselves losing more than they bargained for if they ever misplace their smartphone.

Protect the Privacy of Your Smart Phone

2008-02-15T14:47:00.004-05:00

Jordan Meddy, NCC News

The latest generation of smart phones is allowing people to combine many of their electronic activities into one device. But as mobile devices become more like mobile computers, they'll be prone to the same security threats now facing personal computers athome. "Fundamentally these smart phone devices are portable computers. They’re a full blown operating system and as such they have security vulnerabilities,” said Dave Molta, Director of the Center for Emerging Network Technologies (CENT) at Syracuse University.

Nearly 8 million smart phone devices were lost last year and smart phones were 40 percent more likely to be lost than regular cell phones, according to InStat. Users can pay a steep price if their device is lost or stolen, especially with the new types of information people store on mobile devices. “For example on my smart phone if you were an inquisitive and creative enough person you might be able to find my brokerage account, that I have in my own code, but it is there,” Molta said.

Convenience and style are what convinced Syracuse University student Taylor Weidman to buy an iPhone eight months ago. Weidman tries not to keep vital personal information on the device. He says he doesn't worry much about his iPhone's security, but realized recently the need to be careful. “I downloaded a program that lets you control your computer from your phone,” Weidman said. “And then I realized that anyone that got my password could go in and get all my stuff from my computer. So I deleted that program and got rid of it. That didn’t make me comfortable at all.”

Users should also be aware of the so called "virus threat." Like on personal computers, smart phone users can receive spyware when connected to a network that allows others to gain access to their data. Vendors are concerned with security, but it's hard--they say-- tokeep up with those who try to break through. “Apple’s been pretty good about patching the iPhone so far,” said Sean Ginevan, a technology analyst for CENT. “But it’s really become a war between the hackers who want to keep their device free and Apple who wants to try to keep it secure.”

Experts warn that as technology evolves...so too will privacy threats or identity theft. And for that--they say--people must take the lessons from computer desktops at home...to their smart phones on the road.

HD-DVD vs. Bluray

2008-02-14T22:57:00.006-05:00

Who's Winning? Does it even matter?

Matthew Schultz Reporting for NCC News

Syracuse, NY

Now that more than 35% of American households have high-definition televisions, everybody wants to experience movies in HD. But with the current format war between Bluray and HD-DVD, no one wants to buy the technology that will soon be obsolete. "If we could define the format that's going to win," said Tom Coughlin of Coughlin Associates, "it would be extremely important to the industry because then I think that would free up consumers to start making decisions on their purchasing systems."

Now that consumers - especially movie buffs - want to experience movies in HD, Bluray has become a household word. But what is a Bluray? Well, it's Sony's version of a high definition movie player, and was named after the blue-violet light used to read the discs. Despite it's strange name, it is winning the format war thanks to support from major movie studios.

"Bluray manipulates about 75% of the movie market right now," said David Baselli, a home theater expert for Bestbuy. The reason the movie studios chose it was that it has more storage space...which means it can hold more advanced audio and video.

Upconverters
There is another player in this battle. DVD upconverters make regular old DVDs look better on HDTVs. They are included in Bluray and HD-DVD players, but can be found as standalone units for less than $50. Upconverters do NOT make your DVDs high definition, though. In an informal survey of Bestbuy shoppers, only one person could not tell the difference between a bluray disc and an upconverted DVD. So HD is noticeably better. But is Bluray worth the price? Said Anthony Hankelman, "If you have money to throw out, definitely (I would buy one), but, if you don't, you should save up."

Does it Matter?
Although HD movies look better than regular ones, and Bluray appears to be winning the war, you may still want to hold off on purchasing one. The reason? According to Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Pop Culture, "The idea of a disk may be...it's alreayd sounding old fashioned to me, so by the time the HD-Bluray battle finally gets finished, the victor may not have that many spoils to be dealing with because we may have moved on to something else. There's no reason why we can't speculate, in the very near future, you couldn't carry around the Warner Brothers library on something about the size of a thumb drive and pop it in when you feel like, and who needs to bother with this ancient technology of a disk?"

Apple TV already offers high definition movie rentals. It's only a matter of time before we'll be buying movies online and saving them to a flash drive from the comfort of our own couches. A time will likely come when the DVD will have gone the way of the VHS tape, and be forgotten.

RTN 667.1 SPRING 2008

2008-02-10T17:11:00.003-05:00

WELCOME TO SYRACUSE

2008-02-10T16:57:00.002-05:00

Over the next 10 weeks, we invite you to learn more about issues of interest to Central New York through the enterprised reports of grad students in the Class of '08. The stories will draw from the following 12 reporter beats:

Health/Fitness
Consumer/Credit
Economy/Marketplace
Environment/Ecology
Urban/Social Issues
Lifestyle/Pop Culture
Business/Finance
Sports/Business/Medicine
Education
Crime & Public Safety
Science/Technology
Religion/Spirituality